Leyton Orient made it three wins on the spin in their penultimate game of the season with a 0-2 away triumph at Crawley Town.
The goals came from Theo Archibald and Aaron Drinan.
Superb Start
The O’s took the lead eight minutes in when goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux’s long ball over the top of the Crawley defence found Archibald who beautifully lobbed Glenn Morris in the Red Devils’ goal.
Orient then had the chance to double their lead soon after as Paul Smyth was brought down in the box by defender Jordan Tunnicliffe. Drinan stepped up to take the spot kick but it was saved by Morris. He then denied Drinan again as he headed the rebound straight back at the keeper.
The visitors were becoming wasteful in front of goal as they missed another chance to double their lead. Smyth’s deflected cross found recalled loanee Jordan Brown whose great strike was excellently saved.
Chances continued in the second half. A poor chested back pass from substitute Tony Craig was intercepted by Archibald but he couldn’t convert as his shot was cleared off the line by Will Ferry.
Dramatic Finish
Controversy struck in stoppage time when Crawley striker James Tilley thought he had equalised when his shot thundered off the underside of the bar and looked to have crossed the line, however the referee’s assistant did not award the goal.
Drinan wrapped up all three points for Leyton Orient in the 95th minute finishing off a swift counterattack. Matt Young’s precise through ball found Drinan who curled a right footed shot round Morris and into the bottom corner.
Post-Match Reaction
O’s manager Richie Wellens spoke to the club’s YouTube channel after the game and said: “We want to build a culture with a winning mentality; that’s an attitude we’re developing.”
Orient sit 13th in the League Two table. Their final game of the season is a home fixture against play-off chasing Tranmere Rovers.
