Leyton Orient held on to their 3-0 lead to claim back-to-back home victories for the first time this season, as they won 3-2 against Crawley Town at the Matchroom Stadium.
Sam Dalby grabbed the early goal for Orient for his first senior goal for the club with a shot from close range.
Paul McCallum double the O’s advantage shortly after, with another effort from inside the box – found the back of the net and just before the break converted from the spot this time for his brace.
Andy Edwards made four changes to his side that were defeated 1-0 away at Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. With a debut for 17 year old defender Teddy Mezague who replaced the injured Callum Kennedy. Dalby, Sandro Semedo and Michael Collins all return to the side as Robbie Weir, Jordan Bowery and Jay Simpson all shuffle to the bench.
Before the match both sides respectfully had a minutes silence for those that were lost throughout the year from both clubs.
Orient took the lead just five minutes in, as Nigel Atangana intercepted the Crawley defender slotted it into Gavin Massey who burst out wide into space gave it back to Atanagana to square it across goal for Dalby’s first senior goal for the club.
Massey was threatening again from the right flank, as his deep cross was met by McCallum who headed it back across goal but went just wide.
The O’s doubled their lead within 12 minutes, as a quick free-kick from Orient by Collins to Massey and his low cross found Paul McCallum sliding in to turn it under Glenn Morris.
Crawley had their first shot on goal just after the half hour mark, as James Collins rifled a shot that was straight at Alex Cisak.
In added time of the first half, the O’s got their third. Myles Judd worked hard down the right to feed Massey into the box who was brought down by Jordan Roberts and the referee did not hesitate to point to the spot. McCallum stepped up and sent Morris the wrong way to get his second of the day.
In the second half, Crawley got a goal back just eight minutes in as a dangerous ball across goal was headed beyond Cisak at the far post by Mezague.
McCallum was in search of his hat-trick, as Massey’s cross was headed wide by McCallum to deny him the match ball.
Orient then broke on the counter-attack, as substitute Jordan Bowery cut the ball to Massey who went down inside the box but the referee was unmoved.
The vistors found themsleves back in game with their second, as Boldewijn broke through the defence went round Cisak and neatly tucked it in from a tight angle.
Josh Payne for Crawley had a shot from a freekick but Cisak tipped it over the bar to deny the away side.
Orient held on in injury time to claim a vital three points points and move up to 19th.
Leyton Orient Lineup: 1 Alex Cisak, 6 Tom Parkes, 7 Michael Collins, 10 Paul McCallum, 11 Gavin Massey, 15 Nigel Atangana, 16 Nicky Hunt (C), 19 Teddy Mezague, 22 Sandro Semedo, 29 Myles Judd, 30 Sam Dalby (58)
Substitutes: 24 Sam Sargeant, 8 Robbie Weir, 9 Ollie Palmer, 21 Jordan Bowery (58), 27 Jay Simpson, Josh Koroma, 37 Yvan Erichot
Crawley Town Lineup: 12 Glenn Mrris, 2 Lewis Young, 4 Josh Payne, 6 Mark Connolly, 8 Jimmy Smith (C), 11 Jordan Roberts (74), 14 Andre Blackman (45), 15 Josh Jorwerth, 18 Billy Clifford, 19 James Collins
Substitutes: 13 Yusuf Mersin, 17 Bobson Bawling (73), 20 Aryan Tajbakhsh, 22 Joe McNerney (45), 24 Kaby Djalo, 33 Sanchez Watt, 44 Connor Henderson
Attendance: 4,486 (295)
