Nolan’s men pay the penalty and lose at rivals Barnet

Leyton Orient’s hopes of finishing in the League Two play-offs were dented as they suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to Barnet this afternoon.

It was the first time Kevin Nolan’s men had played at the Hive and they had an afternoon to forget against their London rivals.

After coming in one down at the break, Lloyd James had a penalty saved before two more goals gave the Bees all three points.

The Brisbane Road outfit drop down to 11th as a result and are now four matches without a win – their last success coming on March 19.

James was handed a first start of 2016 by Nolan and was given the armband for the London derby at the Hive.

Skipper Mathieu Baudry was on the bench along with vice-captain Sean Clohessy and Calaum Jahraldo-Martin was included from the off against the Bees.

Jobi McAnuff missed out altogether with a calf problem while Sammy Moore was ill and not selected in the squad.

Orient went with the diamond formation in midfield with James the deepest of the four and Jahraldo-Martin behind Jay Simpson and Ollie Palmer.

Andy Yiadom forced a corner in the fifth minute when Peter Ramage headed his cross behind, but Nolan cleared Luke Gambin’s and it helped the visitors settle.

Curtis Weston headed over three minutes later as Barnet made the brighter start before the same man fired wide in the 11th minute.

Weston had enjoyed a busy start to the match as with quarter of an hour played he picked up a caution for catching Alex Cisak late.

Even though the Bees had started well, by the midway point of the first half the O’s had taken the sting out of their game.

But in the 26th minute the hosts took the lead after the whole Orient team switched off when they wanted handball by Weston.

Referee Keith Stoud didn’t give anything and with all the visitors appealing for a foul, James Pearson crossed in and John Akinde headed past Cisak from inside the box.

It did look like a handball by the Bees midfielder, but O’s should have remained focused and concentrated on the match.

They looked to respond just past the half an hour mark when James played a wonderful ball forward with the outside of his foot.

Palmer cut back inside before laying off to Nigel Atangana on the edge of the area, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Jamie Stephens.

A James’ free kick caused problems for the Bees and goalkeeper Stephens missed the ball. It dropped to Brisley, but he hooked over the crossbar.

Orient continued to press and went close again seven minutes before half time when Atangana volleyed towards goal from just inside the area.

Stephens again produced a wonderful save, diving full stretch to push away from the top corner and preserve the home team’s lead.

Two minutes of stoppage time were added on, but the east Londoners could do nothing during that period and come in one down at half time.

Nolan’s men began brightly after the restart and were handed a great chance to level in the 47th minute.

Jerome Binnom-Williams brought the ball forward, ran into the penalty are and was brought down by Yiadom.

Referee Stoud pointed to the spot and James stepped up, but his low effort was saved by Stephens and it remained 1-0 to Barnet.

It was the fifth penalty that the O’s had failed to convert this season and things were about to get worst in the 50th minute.

Akinde showed brilliant strength to hold off the challenge of Ramage before Cisak managed to block his effort.

Gambin followed up, though, and smashed a strike against the crossbar, but the Bees weren’t finished there.

They managed to keep the ball, Weston let it roll and Sam Togwell’s effort was deflected, wrong-footing Cisak, before finding the bottom corner.

Jahraldo-Martin and Atangana had shots blocked shortly afterwards. Things went from bad to worst in the 58th minute.

A long ball forward drew Cisak from his goal and he was beaten to it by Akinde who headed into the empty net to make it 3-0.

Orient 1,655 supporters had endured an afternoon to forget so far and in the 63rd minute they let their frustration be heard.

Josh Koroma, a first year scholar, replaced Nolan who left the field to ironic cheers and when he clapped the away fans they booed him off the pitch.

Palmer went close moments later from Nicky Hunt’s cross as his header sailed just past the post.

Armand Gnanduillet took the place of the lacklustre Simpson five minutes later as the visitors tried to find a way back into the contest.

The Orient substitute nearly made an impact 10 minutes from time when he beat a couple of Barnet opponents, but he poked wide and another chance went begging.

Koroma showed good footwork four minutes from time, but his shot was saved by Stephens before Gnanduillet lashed wide from 25-yards.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added on and 17-year-old Koroma had another effort, this one flew over the crossbar.

But the O’s were second best for long periods and a lot of fans had left when the full time whistle eventually followed.

This defeat drops the east Londoners to 11th in the table, but they are still only two points off seventh position.

Barnet: Stephens, Pearson, Dembele, Nelson, Johnson, Yiadom, Togwell, Weston (Stevens 81), Gambin (Muggleton 85), Akinde, Gash (Shomotun 64).

Unused substitutes: Stack, N’Gala, Champion, Sesay.

Leyton Orient: Cisak, Hunt, Ramage, Brisley, Binnom-Williams, Atangana, James, Nolan (Koroma 63), Jahraldo-Martin, Simpson (Gnanduillet 68), Palmer.

Unused substitutes: Gregory, Clohessy, Shaw, Baudry, Turgott.

Attendance: 3,401 (1,655 Leyton Orient supporters).