League Two leaders Leyton Orient edged to a 3-2 win at Newport County to maintain their 100 per cent record this season.

Ian Hendon’s side got off to a sensational start as goals from Paul McCallum and Jay Simpson handed them a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes.

But Newport scored twice in the space of as many minutes at the end of the half through Scott Boden and Mark Byrne to level the contest.

The O’s were coming under pressure in the second half but regained the lead, against the run of play, in the 59th minute through Dean Cox to earn Ian Hendon’s side a hard-earned victory.

Orient picked the same side for the fourth consecutive league match after picking up maximum points in their first three games.

The visitors got off to the ideal start after four minutes when Cox’s cross was headed in off the bar by McCallum.

Newport were left shell-shocked with the O’s doubling their lead in the seventh minute. It was a stunning strike from Simpson as he struck a fierce strike into the net from 20 yards.

It could have easily been 3-0 through Cox but the attacker’s shot was kept out by a decent save from Joe Day.

The O’s were rampant and McCallum spurned another opportunity when he headed Cox’s cross over the bar.

The hosts had a great escape when McCallum’s header struck several angles of the crossbar and somehow stayed out.

The hosts gave themselves a lifeline in the 41st minute when Boden fired the ball in from close range.

Within a minute, Newport were level despite being second best for most of the half when captain Byrne struck a superb 25-yard shot past Alex Cisak.

Newport almost pinched the lead in injury time through Danny Holmes’ strike but Cisak tipped it over the bar.

Terry Butcher’s side nearly scored a third shortly after the restart but Kevin Feely’s header was saved by Cisak.

Hendon made his first change as he brought on Blair Turgott in place of Lloyd James. The O’s also introduced Ollie Palmer for goalscorer Simpson.

But Orient reclaimed the lead against the run of play when Turgott set up Cox and he tapped into the net.

Newport nearly made it 3-3 through Boden but the striker’s looping header flew just over Cisak’s bar.

The O’s created a good chance through Cox but his cross-field ball was blasted over by Palmer.

Orient made their final change with young attacker Scott Kashket brought on for Cox.

With less than ten minutes remaining, the hosts almost levelled but substitute Aaron Collins drilled his shot just past the far post. 

It was a nervy climax for Hendon's side but they held on to make it four consecutive league wins and consolidate top spot in the division.

Newport County: Holmes; Barrow, Byrne, Feely, Poole; Nana Twumasi, Elito, Klukowski (Owen-Evans, 83), Boden (Laurent, 74), Ansah (Collins, 68)

Subs not used: Taylor, Hayden, Parselle, Jones

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Shaw, Essam, Baudry, Clohessy; Cox (Kashket, 74), James (Turgott, 54), Pritchard, Moore; Simpson (Palmer, 54), McCallum

Subs not used: Grainger, Moncur, Agyemang, Ling

Referee: Brendan Malone

Attendance: 2,779 (525 Orient fans)