Lisbie leads Orient into history books

Kevin Lisbie headed Orient into the history books as he sealed their fifth successive league win of the season.

Lisbie nodded home against his former club from Dean Cox’s cross on 63 minutes, after Jabo Ibehre had cancelled out David Mooneys opener, to maintain Orient’s 100 per cent start to the League One campaign on a tense afternoon at the Western Homes Community Stadium, that will live long in the memory of the 1,645 O’s fans in attendance.

Orient’s last league defeat had come at this same venue towards the end of last season, when they fell to a 2-1 loss.

But Slade’s men had gone seven unbeaten across the two campaigns since then and the boss made only one change to his starting line-up from their midweek Capital One Cup extra time exit against Hull.

Mathieu Baudry came back in for Marvin Bartley, while there was a place on the bench for striker Shaun Batt too, and less than two minutes had been played when Lisbie turned David Wright and sent Mooney into the box and his low cross was turned behind by Magnus Okuonghae.

Baudry put the resulting corner wide and Colchester had their first decent sight of goal on eight minutes when Sanchez Watt’s left-footed effort was fielded by Jamie Jones in front of the noisy O’s fans.

Jones was at full stretch, diving to his right, to push another attempt by Watt wide, after Freddie Sears and Gavin Massey had combined well in the build-up.

And more good work in midfield by Watt saw him pick out Ryan Dickson on the left, but his cross was headed over by former O’s favourite Jabo Ibehre on 12 minutes.

The visitors took the lead moments later as a long ball out to the left found Dean Cox and his cross was controlled by Mooney who fired past Sam Walker for his fifth goal of the campaign.

But the hosts looked to respond, with Sears and Watt prominent, and forced a string of corners, which O’s defended without too much alarm.

Slade and his players were growing increasingly frustrated as several decisions went against them midway through the half.

But O’s went close to doubling their lead on 28 minutes when Lloyd James won possession in midfield and found Mooney, who sent Lisbie into the box on the left, only for his right-footed shot to be pushed over the crossbar by Walker.

A superb crossfield ball from James found Moses Odubajo soon after, but his inviting cross found no takers in the Colchester box and the change went begging.

And the visitors were enjoying a purple patch now, with Cox getting a glimpse on the half hour, only for Walker to save bravely at his feet.

Colchester got back on terms on 35 minutes, however, when Sears produced a strong run on the right and the ball broke kindly for Ibehre to steer a shot inside the far post.

The former O’s man refused to celebrate, but the hosts almost edged in front two minutes before the break when Watt took aim from 20 yards and sent a left-footed drive just beyond the dive of Jones and the post.

And there was an early scare at the start of the second half for O’s as Ibehre gave Elliot Omozusi the slip on the right and teed up Wright, whose attempt to find a teammate on the edge of the box was thwarted by Odubajo’s interception.

O’s got a glimpse on 54 minutes when Cox swung a cross in from the left and Mooney glanced a near post header across the face of goal.

And Odubajo produced a burst of speed on the right just before the hour to make his way into the box but Cox could not direct his header from the deep cross on target.

Cox turned provider again, though, on 63 minutes when his cross from the left found Lisbie at the far post to send a downward header into the net for his fifth of the campaign and send the Orient fans delirious.

And Cox forced a diving save from Walker midway through the half after being teed up by Mooney some 25 yards out.

Colchester went close to a second equaliser when Jones punched a Sears corner out to Okuonghae, whose effort was deflected narrowly over the crossbar.

And Ibehre was denied by an offside flag when he turned home Watt’s angled effort at the far post with 17 minutes remaining.

Lisbie made wait for Batt, to a warm reception from Orient and Colchester fans, before Colchester boss Joe Dunne sent Clinton Morrison on for Sears.

And the Republic of Ireland international fired a shot on the turn narrowly over as the home side continued to come forward.

The hosts had shouts for a penalty turned down when Drey Wright went down in the box eight minutes from time and their fans were incensed when Marvin Bartley shrugged off Craig Eastmond on a surge upfield, leaving the former Arsenal youngster holding his face.

Eastmond then lifted a last-minute chance over from a corner as O’s looked towards the clock.

But when Vincelot cleared an injury-time corner, Batt raced upfield and shot wide of a gaping goal, with Colchester’s Walker still making his way back.

Not that it mattered as O’s fans broke out into another chorus of “We are top of the league” and into the history books.

Colchester: Waller, David Wright (Gilbey 70), Dickson, Okuonghae, Eastmond, Watt, Sears (Morrison 77), Ibehre, Eastman, Massey (Drey Wright 70), Olufemi.

Unused subs: Cousins, Thompson, Bond, Spence.

Orient: Jones, Omozusi, Vincelot, Cuthbert, Baudry, Cox, James (Bartley 77), Lisbie (Batt 75), Mooney, Odubajo, Clarke.

Unused subs: Larkins, Lee, Vanderhyde, Gorman.

Referee: A Woolmer (Northants).

Attendance: 5,065 (including 1,645 Orient fans).