Enfield-born winger looks ahead to the visit of Gary Waddock’s Aldershot and explains why it should be an even more entertaining contest this time around

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient's James Dayton battles with Dagenham & Redbridge opponent Charlee Adams (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo).Leyton Orient's James Dayton battles with Dagenham & Redbridge opponent Charlee Adams (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo). (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

James Dayton is looking forward to seeing how Leyton Orient fare against Aldershot Town now they have a virtually fully-fit squad to pick from.

The O’s achieved a creditable 2-2 draw at the Recreation Ground on September 23 despite trailing by two goals in Hampshire.

Steve Davis was the manager of the side then, but was without George Elokobi while Dayton and Josh Coulson were only just returning from injury lay-offs.

Justin Edinburgh is in charge of Orient now and he has made the east Londoners hard to beat while this month has seen several new signings come into the squad, so the Shots will face a much-better O’s team this time around.

“Aldershot are a good side. We played them earlier in the season and it finished 2-2 and we did well in the second half,” said Dayton.

“I remember we weren’t at it in the first half and I think it was my first game back after a glut/hamstring problem.

“I had missed three games before and we missed a few others. George was missing and Coulson come back from his hip flexor, but from that match on he missed a large chunk, so we didn’t really have a full-strength team or squad.

“You look at it now and the gaffer has virtually a fully fit squad to pick from apart from Charlie Lee, who is out long-term, so that’s good for us.

“It is healthy to have competition for places and it keeps everyone on their toes and keeps everything pushing each other.”

Edinburgh will be without left-back Joe Widdowson as well, after he starts his two-match suspension following his second red card of the campaign at Bognor Regis Town earlier this month.

But as Dayton points out, the O’s squad now, compared to the one which took on Aldershot before, is a lot stronger and has more depth.

The ex-Cheltenham Town winger also discussed why Saturday’s contest at Brisbane Road could be one for the neutrals with both teams trying to play more football than a lot of their rivals in the National League.

Dayton added: “Aldershot are a good footballing side and it should be another decent game to watch, but I just hope our pitch holds up!

“It should be a good game of football and I think the standard should be high and it will probably be one of the better ones this season.”