Leyton Orient fell to their fourth defeat of the season as two early goals helped Salford City to a 3-0 victory at the Breyer Group Stadium.
Rory Gaffney added to Carl Piergianni’s brace to lift Graham Alexander’s side to within two points of Justin Edinburgh’s men.
Dale Gorman kicked things off in front of a sell-out crowd. The game promised to live up to expectations with both teams playing at a fast pace in the opening minutes of the match.
Head Start
It was Salford who broke the deadlock with their first effort of the game from a set-piece. Danny Whitehead’s corner kick was floated into the penalty area, where Piergianni headed into the bottom corner from the edge of the six-yard-box.
Soon, the Ammies doubled their lead before the 10-minute mark with another header, but this time from open play. Gaffney got in between two O’s defenders to nod home Whitehead’s inviting cross.
The O’s faithful were enraged when referee Richard Hulme waved away James Brophy’s penalty appeal. The tricky winger chopped the ball past Ibou Touray before appearing to be taken down by the full-back’s outstretched leg.
Tempers Flare
The two title rivals clashed on the edge of the Salford penalty area after 17 minutes, with both teams pushing and shoving one another after Josh Koroma had been brought down by Nathan Pond. Both players were booked for the incident, while Charlie Lee also received a caution for his protests.
Orient looked to cool things down and dictate possession as they searched for a way back into the game. It was the visitors who posed a threat in the final third as Matt Green snuck in behind Josh Coulson before firing over Dean Brill’s bar.
Just before the half hour mark, Koroma attempted a speculative effort but could only send the ball straight into Chris Neal’s gloves.
Lucky Escape
The O’s nearly found a route back into the game on 35 minutes. Captain Jobi McAnuff turned smartly, earning himself a yard of space on the edge of the box, before firing a low strike which Neal magnificently palmed away from danger.
At the other end, Salford broke again and spurred a glorious opportunity for a third before the break. Whitehead slipped the ball through the defensive line towards Gaffney, who fluffed his first-time effort over the bar despite having time to compose himself.
Coulson was millimetres from pulling a goal back for the hosts, but saw his header cleared off the line after flicking Lee’s hooked ball goal-bound.
Drew Debut
Orient should have found the back of the net soon after the restart. McAnuff’s cute ball in behind the defence put Koroma in on goal, but the young forward’s effort was brilliantly saved by Neal.
Graham Alexander’s side set up camp on the edge of the penalty area, looking to weather the storm and hold out for an impressive away victory. Meanwhile, the hosts upped the tempo in a bid to salvage something from the match.
Justin Edinburgh introduced new signing Jordan Maguire-Drew, who joined from Brighton during the week, shortly after the hour along with Alex Lawless in a bid to change the fate of the game.
Final Nail
Sadly, Coulson was forced off a minute later with an injury and replaced by Dan Happe in Orient’s third change of the evening.
To make matters worse, Salford extended their lead 10 minutes from time. Piergianni grabbed his second of the evening with another header after meeting Tom Walker’s free-kick to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
The game came to a disappointing end for the hosts though Orient can be grateful that Dover Athletic defeated Wrexham 1-0 at the Racecourse Ground. This keeps the O’s two points clear at the summit of the National League.
Match Stats
ORIENT: Dean Brill, Sam Ling, Josh Coulson (Dan Happe 65’), Marvin Ekpiteta, Joe Widdowson, Jobi McAnuff, Charlie Lee (Jordan Maguire-Drew 63’), Dale Gorman (Alex Lawless 63’), James Brophy, Josh Koroma, Macauley Bonne.
SUBS: Sam Sargeant, Matt Harrold.
GOALS:
BOOKED: Lee (17’), Koroma (17’), Gorman (53’)
SALFORD: Christopher Neal, Scott Wiseman, Ibou Touray, Liam Hogan, Carl Piergianni, Nathan Pond, Daniel Whitehead (Adam Rooney 90’) Liam Nolan, Thomas Walker, Matthew Green (Devante Rodney 86’), Rory Gaffney.
SUBS: Maxime Crocombe, Daniel Lloyd-McGoldrice, Mani Dieseruvwe.
GOALS: Piergianni (6’, 81’), Gaffney (8’)
BOOKED: Pond (17’)
REFEREE: Richard Hulme
ATTENDANCE: 6,937 (251)
