Match report: Leyton Orient 1 Huddersfield Town 1

May 4 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Other than a flurry of three successive corners near the end of the first half, Orient hardly had a sniff before the turnaround.

They almost gifted Town a goal in the fourth minute, when on-loan West Ham centre-back Jordan Spence’s misplaced back header left keeper Jones grasping thin air and rolled just inches wide.

And Booth had the ball in the net from Robbie Williams’ eighth-minute cross, only for referee Andy Woolmer to rule he had fouled Jones.

Booth headed off target in the 20th minute, and Anthony Pilkington, back from a groin strain, had a low shot saved in the 21st, before Booth’s goal.

Then, on 35 minutes, the lively Pilkington had a goalbound effort blocked by centre-back Tamika Mkandawire, with Williams heading over from the resultant corner.

Pilkington was just wide when another corner, this time in the 41st minute, was only partially cleared, but a half-time pep talk seemed to lift the home side, who looked far sharper in the second period.

Eastwood saved from midfielder Jason Demetriou before foiling striker Scott McGleish.

Then, in the 52nd minute, former Doncaster midfielder Sean Thornton shot wide after a good run.

At the other end, Clarke headed wide from Williams’ corner before fans had the rare sight of a goalkeeper being treated for cramp (Eastwood is sure to have had some ribbing on the journey home!).

Home forward Wayne Gray drove wide and Town’s Tom Clarke had a shot blocked by Mkandawire before Orient levelled.

An both sides had chances to win it, Town through Ainsworth and Orient through Thornton, Daniels and McGleish, before another League I campaign came to an end, with Town in ninth place, their best finish since making the play-offs three years ago.

Click here to see action shots of Town's game at Brisbane Road.