Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Oldham Athletic
Coca-Cola League One

GARY ALEXANDER scored and was sent off as Orient lost a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Oldham Athletic at Brisbane Road.

The O's striker drilled home his ninth of the season in the 13th minute, but was then dismissed at the start of the second period for receiving a second yellow card.

It changed the course of the game as Oldham went on to boss its remainder.

Even Gary Hooper's debut goal with 20 minutes to go wasn't enough to deter the visitors, and two goals in the last 17 minutes ensured the points would be shared.

Andy Liddell, who denied the O's a victory at Boundary Park earlier in the season with a last gasp spot kick, struck in similar circumstances to draw the scores level and Orient were left to hang on grimly for their point.

Wayne Corden was the first to go close, curling a 25-yard free-kick just past the post in the sixth minute as Orient looked to get off to a dream start.

However, home boss Martin Ling was forced into an early change when Shane Tudor was forced off with an injury in the 12th minute.  New loan signing Hooper came on to replace him, and from the next phase of play, Orient took the lead.

Hooper and Justin Miller were involved in getting the ball to Alexander, who had found space in the right hand side of the penalty area.  The angle was against the O's striker, but Oldham keeper Les Pogliacomi failed to deal with the shot, which flew across him and in off the far post.

The visitors almost hit back immediately as Paul Warne ran through, but he directed his shot straight at Glyn Garner and Orient's lead remained intact.

But Orient still looked the more potent side and Matt Lockwood came within inches of reaching a clever through ball from Corden after making a lung-busting run from the back.

Oldham were finding it difficult to deal with high balls in the swirling wind, and John Mackie could have made it two on 28 when his run round the back was found by Lockwood's free-kick.  However, the O's skipper couldn't get enough power on his header and Pogliacomi saved easily.

The away side looked a threat when they moved forward, though, and former Leeds man Sean Gregan missed a great chance to level after 36 minutes when he headed Liddell's free-kick just over the bar.

Oldham were beginning to pick up all the second balls and Warne unleashed a stinging shot against the O's crossbar on 39 after Mackie had stood off the visiting striker.

Demetriou fired over the crossbar in stoppage time, but the O's would have been pleased to end an entertaining opening 45 minutes in front.

However, their hopes of holding on to their advantage were dealt a blow just four minutes after the interval when Gary Alexander dived into a needless tackle on Will Haining and was sent off for receiving a second booking.

Two minutes later Garner came to the rescue when he reacted brilliantly to first block Miller's inadvertent goalbound touch and then claw the loose ball off the line.

And then, with 55 minutes on the clock, another heroic block kept the scoreline at 1-0 when Warne threatened to turn home from close range.

Oldham smashed the O's crossbar for a second time on 58 when Craig Rocastle burst through from midfield and crashed a shot against the woodwork.

Referee Phil Joslin adjudged Garner to have touched the ball onto the bar, and from the resulting corner Haining whacked an effort wide.

Eardley was next to try his luck, firing in an angled drive from the edge of the box that Garner fielded well and the O's goal was starting to lead a very charmed life.

But then, totally out of the blue, Orient extended their lead when Hooper showed great strength to hold off Haining, reach Demetriou's lofted pass forward and lob over a hopelessly exposed Pogliacomi.

Martin Ling's men needed their second goal, but Leon Clarke came within a whisker of reducing the arrears immediately when Leon Clarke headed against the top of the bar.

Oldham did finally breach the O's backline on 73 when time seemed to stand still from a Liddell cross, with Taylor sneaking in unnoticed to head home at the far post.

And Orient's lead evaporated nine minutes from time when Brian Saah clumsily felled Richie Wellens in the box.  Liddell stepped up and squeezed the ball home to Garner's left.

Orient's thoughts turned to protecting their point and Garner needed to produce a stunning tip-over to prevent Wellens' long range screamer from breaking the net on 84.

Another brilliant save from Garner, who sprung to the right to stop Warner's searing drive, denied the visitors as the clock ticked over 90, and although Clarke knocked home the rebound, an offside flag cut short the celebrations.

2	LEYTON ORIENT	COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1		OLDHAM ATHLETIC	2
1	Glyn GARNER	Brisbane Road 17/3/07		Les POGLIACOMI	1
3	Matt LOCKWOOD	Ref: Phil Joslin (Notts)		Simon CHARLTON	2
6	John MACKIE (C)	Att: 5,443 (657 away)		Craig ROCASTLE	4
7	Shane TUDOR	Goals (time):		Will HAINING (C)	5
8	Craig EASTON	Alexander (13)		RIchie WELLENS	7
9	Gary ALEXANDER RC	Hooper (70)		Leon CLARKE YC	8
10	Ryan JARVIS	Taylor (74)		Paul WARNE	14
15	Justin MILLER	Liddell (pen 81)		Sean GREGAN	16
21	Brian SAAH			Chris TAYLOR	18
24	Jason DEMETRIOU YC			Andy LIDDELL	22
25	Wayne CORDEN			Neal EARDLEY YC	35
	SUBSTITUTES	Replaced (time)		SUBSTITUTES
11	Phil MULRYNE			Ben TURNER	3
12	Glenn MORRIS (GK)		2 (90)	Paul EDWARDS	11
14	Adam TANN	3 (58)		Alan BLAYNEY (GK)	13
17	Gary HOOPER	7 (11)		Gary McDONALD	15
27	Alton THELWELL	25 (82)		Dean SMALLEY	38