Leyton Orient boss Justin Edinburgh praised the performance of his team after the O’s secured a 1-0 win over high-flying AFC Fylde on Saturday.

Macauley Bonne’s first half penalty proved to be enough for the O’s, who condemned Fylde to their first home defeat since September and they moved up to 16th place in the National League after Saturday’s result.

The only minor point on an otherwise good team performance was the O’s inability to kill off the game and Edinburgh felt on another day, his team could have scored more.

Speaking to Leyton Orient’s website, he said: “I thought it was a very strong performance. I always felt we were in control of the game. Obviously Fylde had some periods in the game, but they never really troubled us and perhaps my only criticism of the group today is that final decision in the final third. If we were a little more cute with it, then I think we could have had a few more goals. But I thought the players were excellent today."

It was the O’s who started brighter and fresh from converting his first goal for the O’s against Tranmere Rovers, Dan Holman almost added his second in two games just before the half hour mark, as he saw a powerful drive from distance go inches over the crossbar.

But Justin Edinburgh’s men were to take the lead which their first half performance merited on the stroke of half time, as Holman was fouled just inside the penalty area and referee Karl Evans had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Bonne stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home, to convert his 16th goal of the season.

On another day, Bonne could have had a hat-trick, with the O’s top scorer inches away from connecting with James Brophy’s deflected shot, before then seeing a header from Craig Clay’s cross go just over the bar in the second half.

The O’s were almost made to pay for their missed chances at the death, as Fylde nearly snatched a point, but brave defending from Josh Coulson kept the hosts at bay.

Edinburgh selected an unchanged Orient team on Saturday, with Holman, Brophy and Josh Koroma all keeping their places in the side. Interestingly, there was no place in the match day squad for new signings Sam Ling and Nathan Mavila, but Edinburgh felt he picked a ‘balanced’ team to take on Fylde at the weekend.

He said: “I thought it looked a balanced team. Unfortunately, Jobi (McAnuff) didn’t overcome the shoulder injury he picked up against Dover and I think when people earn that right to stay in the team, then they deserve to. But that was the reason and that’s why we got the result today.”