Northampton Town 1-1 Leyton Orient

With four straight wins away from home under their belt and not a league goal conceded since October, Leyton Orient had every reason to be confident ahead of their trip to Sixfields yesterday. The O’s were bragging a fine record on the road this season and their season had only been blighted by a poor run at Brisbane Road.

So it was certainly against the form guide when the Cobblers took a second minute lead as Liam Davis drove home following an uncleared Andy Todd cross. With one goal in that short amount of time after kick off we could have been forgiven for thinking that this was the start of the floodgates opening following the visitors’ stubborn run of blocking sides out.

Nicholas Bignall featured in a rare starting berth up front with Scott McGleish and forced O’s keeper Glenn Morris into a good stop after twenty minutes as we increased the pressure and tried to force the issue of the early lead. It was all going swimmingly until just before the break when Orient came forward in a rare attack. Leading scorer Adam Boyd got in a powerful header that Frank Fielding did very well to save but JJ Melligan was on hand to nod home the equaliser at the worst possible time.

A half time gee-up was needed but it was the visitors that had the first opening of the second half with Tamika Mkadawire shooting wide. This seemed to kick us into life and Bignall again was in the middle of the action as his shot was blocked by a covering O’s defender.

Fielding had to be at his best mid way through the half as the on loan keeper proved that a January swoop would be well appreciated as he kept out Adam Chambers’ powerful effort with a good save after Chambers had been set up by Boyd. Sam Parkin was brought onto his old stomping ground with twenty minutes to go while Colin Larkin replaced Ryan Gilligan for the Cobblers.

A final ten minute attack from the Cobblers included Giles Coke having a shot saved and Scott McGleish round the keeper before having the ball bounce away from him but the game ended in a frustrating draw but on that the visitors very much deserved on the basis of the play.

The result leaves us still hanging around in mid-table and in desperate need of both the big Bayo back in action and a proven goal scorer to make games like this one safe if we’re to get into the upper realms of the table.