Northampton Town 1 - 1 Leyton Orient
Coca Cola League Two

A JOHN Mackie header midway through the second half sealed a point for Orient as an evenly-balanced contest with Northampton ended all square.

Going behind to an early Andy Kirk wonder-strike, the O's carved out little in the way of goalscoring opportunities before the break, but a much improved post-interval showing saw them earn their draw.

Orient played much of the match with an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation, as Martin Ling's attempts to replace Shane Tudor with Jabo Ibehre on the right of midfield proved unsuccessful.

The O's boss quickly reverted Ibehre, making the 100th start of his career on the ground where he made his league debut almost six years ago, to a central striking role alongside Lee Steele and Paul Connor, and the tactical switch paid off.

Gary Alexander dropped to the bench for the first time in the league this season, and it was Connor, signed to increase the O's striking options, who almost opened the scoring with a sixth minute shot into the side netting from the right.

But just two minutes later the home side went ahead when Kirk rode three challenges as he ran across the midfield from the left and rifled a 30 yard drive high past Glyn Garner's despairing drive.

The goal threatened to spark Northampton into life after a quiet start, but the majority of the first half was subdued with neither side able to claim mass domination.

Northampton were forced deep by the O's possession, but there were only sporadic threats on Lee Harper's goal: a low drive wide from 25 yards by Michael Simpson and a shot from the edge of the box by Craig Easton which was finger-tipped over being the best two.

On the hour mark, Northampton looked to have doubled their advantage when Jason Crowe powered in a shot from the edge of the area, but a deflection from Scott McGleish was needed to take it past Garner, and McGleish was clearly offside when the ball struck him.

Alexander replaced Steele as Orient began to get a foothold in the game, with Lockwood and Joe Keith combining well on the right and Connor and Ibehre using their strength to good effect up front.

On 64 the O's won a corner in front of their own fans, and it was Mackie, sporting a typical heroic captain's bandage around his forehead following an earlier collision, who headed Lockwood's delivery past Harper.

Shortly afterwards, with Orient sniffing a chance of victory, Connor sent a low shot from 20 yards whistling inches wide, whilst Lockwood produced a similar effort in the dying stages.

But if anything, it was Northampton who had slightly the better of the latter period, and Garner made a priceless point-blank save with 15 minutes remaining as he spread himself in front of a close-range Kirk header and blocked the ball away with his chest.

The Cobblers forced two injury time corners, but Orient had worked hard to put themselves in a position for a point and were in no mood to throw it away as a draw, widely conceded as the fairest outcome, was secured.

1	NORTHAMPTONTOWN	COCA COLA LEAGUE 2		LEYTON ORIENT	1
1	Lee HARPER	Sixfields - 14/2/06		Glyn GARNER	1
2	Jason CROWE	Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancs)		Matt LOCKWOOD	3
5	Luke CHAMBERS	Att: 5552 (726 away)		Michael SIMPSON	4
6	Chris DOIG	Goals		John MACKIE (C)	6
7	Ian TAYLOR	Kirk (8)		Craig EASTON	8
8	Andy KIRK	Mackie (64)		Lee STEELE YC	10
9	Scott McGLEISH			Joe KEITH	11
12	David HUNT			Gabriel ZAKUANI	14
16	Sean DYCHE (C)			Justin MILLER	15
18	Gavin JOHNSON			Paul CONNOR	18
21	Jamie HAND			Jabo IBEHRE	19
	SUBSTITUTES	Replaced (time)		SUBSTITUTES
11	Eoin JESS			Donny BARNARD	2
13	Mark BUNN (GK)			Adam TANN	5
20	Pedj BOJIC	12 (58)	10 (61)	Gary ALEXANDER	9
25	Scott CROSS	9 (85)		Glenn MORRIS (GK)	12
29	Ryan GILLIGAN	21 (76)		Daryl McMAHON	17