Bristol Rovers 2-3 Leyton Orient: Gas forced to wait for first win under new boss Inigo Calderon


Despite a spirited team performance and Chris Martin’s double, Rovers are perched precariously above the League One relegation zone as their worrying winless run was extended to seven games.
The game began brightly for Rovers but Promise Omochere missed a glorious opportunity to give the Spaniard a dream start after smashing the ball at Orient keeper Josh Keeley after good work from Gatlin O’Donkor.
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Hide AdSoon after, Manchester United academy product Ethan Galbraith made Omochere pay for the spurned opportunity on nine minutes. The Northern Ireland international broke the deadlock with a low, angled shot that beat Josh Griffiths dive and rebounded in off the post.
The visitors suffered a setback after 17 minutes when Orient striker Dan Agyei went off injured and was replaced by fellow striker and O’s top-scorer Charlie Kelman. But Calderon also suffered a frontline setback when striker Omochere was replaced by veteran forward Martin.
Rovers stuck at it and centre-back Connor Taylor had a chance to equalise from close range but the keeper saved easily as the defender slipped while shooting.
Calderon’s side were not to be denied and Gasheads were finally able to celebrate as Martin expertly leveled from the penalty spot on 32 minutes. The 36-year-old calmly beat Keeley, sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot, after defender Dan Happe fouled Luke Thomas following sterling work by midfielder Grant Ward.
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Hide AdMartin's goal also meant that there would be no clean sheet for the Londoners, after not conceding a goal in the month of December.
With Rovers on a roll, O’Donkor won the ball back in midfield before his pass eventually found Isaac Hutchinson but his shot was just wide of the left post.
After a contentious free-kick decision, Orient attacking midfielder and Spurs loanee Jamie Donley fired home a fabulous free-kick to once again give the away side the lead
Following a quiet eight minutes to begin the second half, it was poor play from Rovers at the back before the ball was pinched from Lino Souza in the box by Sonny Perkins and he played across to Orient top-scorer Charlie Kelman, who found the far corner in front of the travelling support.
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Hide AdJust after the hour mark, the visitors almost made it four - but Ollie O’Neill’s effort hit the side netting before he was thwarted by Griffiths
Back came Rovers and, completely against the run of play, the experienced Martin bagged again with a cool finish past Keeley following substitute Shaq Forde’s cross.
It gave Rovers hope and set the stage for a tense finale as the Gas thought they had equalised through Gatlin O'Donkor. But referee Alan Young deemed he had handed the ball - much to the dismay of the Memorial Stadium and Calderon who is still looking for his first victory since succeeding Matt Taylor.
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