A first-half Conor Thomas penalty was enough for Cheltenham to see off Leyton Orient and take them top of Sky Bet League Two in the process.

The home side dominated the early chances, with the first coming after just nine minutes when Andy Williams headed just wide.

Charlie Raglan fired just wide before the opening goal arrived in the 31st minute when Orient goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux clattered into Williams earning the Robins a penalty and himself a yellow card. Thomas made no mistake from the spot.

Chris Hussey put another effort wide shortly afterwards before both keepers were called into action early in the second half.

First Cheltenham’s Josh Griffiths reacted well to push a point-blank Danny Johnson header over the crossbar and then an excellent diving save from Vigouroux denied Liam Sercombe at the other end.

Orient, who came into the game looking to extend a seven-match unbeaten run, saw plenty of the ball in the closing stages but failed to get past a solid Cheltenham defence.

Os boss Jobi McAnuff said: “It was a tough afternoon. They are a very difficult team to break down. They have a tight, solid back-five and the three lads in front give them great protection, so there is not a lot of space to play through.

“It was a poor goal from our point of view. When you are coming to a tough place like this, to concede a goal like that was difficult for us to take and from their point of view they are resolute.

“In the second half we were better and on the front foot, spending most of the half in their half, but we certainly didn’t create enough good opportunities for the possession we had.

“We know what we have to do in terms of performances and points we have to pick up between now and the end of the season.”