KELMAN SINKS BORO BUT BOSS WELLENS NOT IMPRESSED BY O’S

By Dennis Jardine

Kelman 12

LEYTON ORIENT 1

STEVENAGE 0

LEYTON ORIENT: Keeley 7, Clare 8, Cooper 7, Edmonds-Green 7, STEVENAGE: Cooper 6, James Wildin 7, Goode 6, Piergianni 7, Currie 7, Pratley 7, Brown 6 (Ball 62, 6), Agyei 7 (Perkins 78, 6), Butler 7, Thompson 6 (Sweeney 90), King 6 (White 80), Roberts Markanday 6 (Donley 70, 6), Jaiyesimi 6 (O’Neill 69, 6) Kelman 7 6 (Appere 81), Kemp 6, Reid 6 (Young 80) Hanlan 6 (List 65, 6). (Abdulai 78, 6). Subs not used: Phillips, Happe Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Freestone Att: 7,305 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Will Finnie 7/10

RICHIE WELLENS questioned his Leyton Orient side’s promotion credentials after they laboured to a narrow victory over Stevenage.

Charlie Kelman’s 12th-minute goal proved enough to move the O’s closer to the play-off places, although they were indebted to a fine late double save from Josh Keeley to earn a precious three points.

Wellens acknowledged: “We’ve not been great.

Football is mad. The last two games have been the two worst performances we’ve had all season and we’ve got six points.

“I thought first 25 minutes we were by far the better team and passed the ball, some good moves and then we just stopped playing. I think you can see little signs with this group that maybe we’re not quite ready to get into the play-offs yet because we get a little bit worried and we get a little bit scared when we go ahead and stop playing.

“No-one expected us to be in and around this position and we’re massively overachieving.”

Orient needed only 12 minutes to take the lead when Kelman headed home Sean Clare’s cross – it also proved to be their only effort on target.

It was just reward for a strong start by the hosts, but Stevenage improved and Dan Kemp had a first-half shot blocked against his old club before his dangerous ball failed to pick out Jamie Reid.

Keeley had largely been untroubled until he produced two fine saves in quick succession late on. Kemp firstly teed up sub Harvey White, who had a low effort clawed away by Keeley, before the Republic of land Under-21 international gathered ed Ire-the subsequent cross-cum-shot from Kemp.

There was still l time for Keeley to pounce on Elliott List’s weak shot to sure Orient moved up to en-eighth.

Frustrated Boro boss Alex Revell said: “Really disappointed with the result.

“Second half we were much better, we won the ball, played some good football.

“Ultimately it is about chances and they took their one chance. We didn’t take ours and 11 shots away from home against three probably shows the game really.

“When you get in those moments, you get numbers in the box and at the end Jake Young has put a brilliant delivery into the middle of the six-yard spot and we haven’t got anyone attacking it.

“In that moment you need people to sacrifice themselves.”