Headers from Josh Coulson and Matt Harrold secured a vital 2-0 win for Leyton Orient at home to Harrogate Town with just two games of the season remaining.
In front of the BT Sport cameras, captain Jobi McAnuff notched an assist on his return to the starting line-up, whilst Jamie Turley played 13 minutes from the bench as both recovered from respective injuries.
The O’s meant business and looked to take an early advantage. Macauley Bonne’s effort was well saved by James Belshaw after the Zimbabwean wriggled free in the penalty area, before Josh Koroma’s stab at goal was cleared off the line by a yellow shirt.
Head Start
From the resulting corner, Orient raced into a 1-0 lead. Taken short, McAnuff picked up the ball and whipped it towards the danger zone, where Coulson superbly looped his header into the top corner to get the O’s off to the perfect start.
The pace of the game showed no sign of slowing as Justin Edinburgh’s men hunted another goal. James Brophy looked threatening down the right-flank, twice getting the better of Jack Senior in the opening ten minutes.
After twenty minutes, the league leaders had the ball in the back of the net again, but saw it ruled out for offside. Bonne tapped home in the goal mouth but was adjudged offside as Jordan Maguire-Drew stroked the ball into this path.
Card Happe
At the other end, Town’s Mark Beck sent a header goal bound after meeting Senior’s cross from the left flank, but the header lacked pace as Dean Brill gathered comfortably.
Dan Happe picked up the first caution of the game for stopping a promising break away, pulling down Jordan Thewlis as the visitors looked to break. Craig Clay was next into Marc Edward’s book with the referee indicating the midfielder used excessive force, despite winning the ball.
It was a scrappy end to the first half as Josh Falkingham picked up a booking for tripping Maguire-Drew in a dangerous area, though McAnuff couldn’t hit the target from 25-yards-out as the half ended 1-0 to the O’s.
Visitors Threaten
Orient began the second half as they did the first, looking to score the next goal. Joe Widdowson was the unlikely candidate to have Orient’s first opportunity of the half, but the left-back’s strike was blocked behind for a corner.
On 52 minutes, Koroma lit up the game with a superb individual effort. The youngster bombed towards the penalty area, cutting in and out before smashing wide with his left-boot.
Harrogate pressure continued to build, and the visitors came close to levelling the score. Thewlis rounded Brill after beating the offside trap, but the post denied the number 12 an equalising goal and Marvin Ekpiteta cleared the danger.
Different Dynamic
Harrold was the first player to be introduced from the bench as Maguire-Drew gave way. The forward’s aerial threat was soon apparent when he nodded Brophy’s corner narrowly wide seconds after being introduced.
Belshaw spectacularly denied Ekpiteta in the 72nd minute, diving low to block a fierce effort towards the near post after the defender calmly controlled Happe’s cross into the box.
Koroma lashed over the bar after being set kindly by Clay, before being replaced by the returning Turley. The home faithful bellowed in support with the news Boreham Wood had levelled against Salford.
Jubilant Scenes
With five minutes remaining, the atmosphere cracked up another notch with the fans pushing the players to the final whistle.
Two minutes from time, it was déjà vu as Thewlis rounded Brill once again but goal scorer Coulson heroically hooked the ball off the line and behind for a corner.
The fourth official signalled five minutes of stoppage time where Orient finally sealed the deal. Brophy’s corner was powered home by Harrold with a bullet header which flew into the top corner.
Orient will once again be broadcast on BT Sport this Easter Monday as they take on third placed Solihull Moors at Damson Park, in what is the penultimate game of the season.
Match Stats
ORIENT: Brill, Widdowson, Coulson, McAnuff, Clay, Bonne, Maguire-Drew (Harrold 64’), Happe, Brophy, Koroma (Turley 77’), Ekpiteta.
SUBS: Sargeant, Lee, Simpson.
GOALS: Coulson (3’), Harrold (90’)
BOOKED: Happe (36’), Clay (39’)
HARROGATE: Belshaw, Fallofield, Senior (Leesley 81’), Falkingham, Howe, Burrell, Emmett (Muldoon 74’), Beck (Knowles 79’), Thewlis, Kerry, Kitching.
SUBS: Thompson, Cracknell.
GOALS:
BOOKED: Falkingham (42’), Howe (82’), Thewlis (89’)
REFEREE: Marc Edwards
ATTENDANCE: 6,665
