5:07pm Saturday 20th March 2010
Orient were out-fought all the over the pitch by a powerful Town today, who displayed their play-off credentials.
Jonathan Téhoué did not get to score against the club he so nearly joined last year, but he was again the source of biggest danger for Orient in a home display which was low on entertainment value.
This was not a game which many would have expected Orient to get much from. And so it proved, as goals by Jordan Rhodes and then Theo Robinson in either half punctured the O's good home form.
Substitute Ryan Jarvis was certain he had won a penalty when he was tripped inside the box late on, but his appeals were waved away by referee Steve Tanner.
A consolation goal would have been undeserved by Orient, whom boss Geraint Williams called "poor." The result means the O's slip down to 16th place in League One.
Now Williams' side gear up for two key matches against Brentford and Hartlepool in the fight for survival.
Orient hardly had a sniff in front of goal during this game. The host's shot count was low as Town first pressed so hard in the early part of the game and then contained Orient comfortably later on.
Aaron Doran and Jason Demetriou had scant joy on the wings, and then Ryan Jarvis and Harry Baker had the same problem when Williams threw them on, soon after Town scored their second.
That came on 67 minutes from a cross supplied by Anthony Pilkington. Tamika Makandawire and Theo Robinson competed to reach it first inside the six yard box. Robinson won and the ball arrowed high into the net.
It set the seal on a dominant display for Lee Clark's side. Earlier, the Terriers took a well deserved 26th minute lead through Jordon Rhodes, from another cross.
He slid in ahead of Ben Chorley at close range and tapped in Gary Roberts out-swinging cross from the left.
Throughout, Orient rarely looked like they would hit back.
Town keeper Alex Smithies hardly had a save to make, except in extra time when he nearly made a mess of Sean Thornton's free kick, which came through a crowd.
Thornton's free kick from wide right in the first half, which flashed across goal midway through the first half, was as dangerous a move as the hosts managed.
Jonathan Téhoué unmarked inside the six yard box was just a step behind it, as it fizzed past in front of him.
Jason Demetriou blazed an effort past the apex of post and bar soon afterwards when the ball landed at his feet, 16 yards out, near to the break.
Town utilised the wide areas well and caused stand-in right back Andrew Cave-Brown all kinds of problems.
It could have been three for Town but for keeper Morris, who was superb to deny Robinson with a diving one-handed save to keep out the forward's header, soon after the break.
Téhoué could have hauled Orient back level just before Town's second, but the ball got tangled up in his feet as he tussled with Neal Trotman inside the box trying to shoot.
With 20 minutes to go, boss Geraint Williams threw on Harry Baker and Ryan Jarvis to freshen up the midfield. A jinking run into the box from wide out by Baker was full of promise, but came to nothing.
Soon after that, Jarvis blazed high and wide after creeping in behind Trotman as Scott McGleish lay prone.
Now Orient gear up for the short trip to Brentford.
Morris (gk), Chorley, Mkandawire (C), Doran (Baker 69), Chambers, McGleish, Thornton, Demetriou (Jarvis 69), Daniels, Téhoué (Scowcroft 80), Cave-Brown.
Subs: Jones (gk), Ashworth, Jarvis, Baker, Smith, Mike, Scowcroft.
Attendance: 4,119 and 798 Town fans.
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