Orient's dreadful run continues despite spirited Leeds display (From This Is Local London)

Orient's dreadful run continues despite spirited Leeds display

10:07pm Tuesday 21st October 2008 in Orient Match Reports

Leeds United 2
Leyton Orient 1
(League One)

ORIENT'S dreadful run of form continued despite a battling display at Leeds.

The hosts started brightly and Fabian Delph blazed just wide from 25 yards out after just two minutes.

And the O's looked in real trouble as early as the tenth minute after Leeds were handed a penalty. Winger JJ Melligan was deemed to have blocked Ben Parker's shot with his arm by ref Colin Webster, who pointed straight to the spot. Jermaine Beckford stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, but blazed it well over Glenn Morris' bar.

The visitors first real chance arrived in the 18th minute. Dean Morgan's inswinging corner was only punched to the edge of the area by United stopper David Lucas, where Paul Terry let fly with a shot that cleared the home bar.

Adam Boyd then fired over the bar, following Melligan's cross.

Orient's growing pressure continued and Dean Morgan was unlucky to see his close range shot blocked by Lucas.

The on-loan Luton man, however, broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when he cut inside to crash home from an acute angle from the right-hand side of the area, after latching onto Alton Thelwell's pass.

Orient's lead was short lived though as just two minutes later skipper Stephen Purches headed into his own net from Beckford's cross.

And Leeds got their noses in front in first half stoppage time after Luciano Becchio headed home Frazer Richardson's cross with some aplomb.

The hosts came within a whisker of increasing their lead four minutes after the restart, when Beckford's volley rattled the east Londoner's bar.

Beckford then just fired wide from close-range, before seeing his shot from the edge of the area saved by Morris.

Morgan had Orient's first real attacking effort of the second half, but his shot from the edge of the area was saved by Lucas just after the hour mark.

Terry then had a volley well blocked by Lubomir Michalik in the 65th minute.

The lively Beckford had a shot well saved by Morris, who dived full-length to his right to keep out the striker's fierce drive.

Orient boss Martin Ling gave it one last throw of the dice with a double substitution ten minutes from time, as he brought on strikers Simon Dawkins and Ryan Jarvis for Boyd and Morgan respectively.

And it was Jarvis who had Orient's next effort at goal, but Lucas was equal to his shot from 12 yards.

The sub then had the next crack at goal but his shot from the edge of the area sailed past the left-hand upright.

Back at the other end and Beckford's shot from inside the visitors' box flashed wide of the right-hand post.

Beckford then crashed a shot against a post, but by then Leeds had already done enough to be sure of the points.

Orient: Morris; Purches, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Palmer; Melligan, Chambers, Terry, Demetriou (Thornton 69); Boyd (Dawkins 80), Morgan (Jarvis 80). Subs: Saah, Jones (GK).