Skipper’s stunning equaliser boosts Latics’ fight for survival

Photo: Pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

ACTION MAN . . . Charlie MacDonald runs at the Orient defence.

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Leyton Orient 1, Athletic 1

LAST time Latics skipper Korey Smith scored in the league, he was playing for Norwich - on April 13, 2010.

One hundred and thirty three games and three clubs (if you include loans to Barnsley and Yeovil) later , Athletic’s Captain Marvel did it again in spectacular fashion - in the 90th minute at Brisbane Road.

It sent 238 travelling fans into raptures and spared the blushes of Charlie MacDonald, who had missed a glorious chance to level three minutes earlier.

It was something of a surprise Smith was even playing at that point. Goodness knows how his injured knee stood up to the toils of his stunning strike at the very end of a battle against one of the most proficient sides in the division.

But he hoisted his body and leapt to hit a dipping volley with the outside of his right boot beyond Eldin Jakupovic and towards the top-right corner of the goal from 20 yards. Any pain would have instantly vanished.

When Smith scores, as he did in the FA Cup against Mansfield with a brilliant solo goal earlier this season, it is spectacular. More importantly, it gave Athletic another precious point in the battle to remain in Sky Bet League One.

And on the balance of play, it was the least Lee Johnson’s men deserved. Athletic were every bit as good as promotion-chasing Orient on the night, if not better.

The Achilles heel of poor defending of corner kicks continued to bite - Scott Cuthbert scored from one and had another similar effort after the break saved by Latics keeper Paul Rachubka.

Despite those aberrations the visitors more than gave as good as they got, with some sparky counter-attacking play.

Johnson – down to the bare bones of his squad – elected to keep the faith in the men who saw off Crawley three days earlier. Athletic looked competent from the off in taking on a club vying for a top-two finish.

Johnson had to give a half-time team talk with his side a goal down even though they were the better team.

Athletic continued to go at Orient with intent in the second half. One Harkins break would have brought a red card rather than a yellow for Jamie Ness, had his touch through been directed more centrally.

And when MacDonald and the lively James Dayton were introduced, as Johnson went to a 4-4-2 with Harkins infield as a second striker, the threat level of the visitors increased.

MacDonald, running the channels with purpose, almost profited from one goalmouth bout of pinball and after Mooney lobbed over the top, Harkins narrowly failed to affect a flick to turn home Worrall’s header.

Would that precious goal ever come? It seemed highly doubtful when MacDonald sliced well wide after being set in on goal by Harkins. On such knife-edges Athletic have slipped to plenty of unfortunate defeats this season.

Up stepped Smith. After Kirk Millar had kept the ball in play, MacDonald shielded to retain possession and when the subsequent cross was half cleared to Smith, he pounced. It was worth the wait.