Leyton Orient suffered a major blow to their League Two play-off hopes after a miserable Easter ended with a 2-0 home defeat to Hartlepool United.

The visitors took the lead early on in the second half when captain Billy Paynter tapped in at the far post. Hartlepool sealed the victory in the 69th minute after a superb individual goal from Nathan Thomas.

It was Kevin Nolan’s side’s second defeat over Easter, failing to score in either game, to leave their chances of winning promotion this season in severe doubt.

Orient made two changes from the side beaten at Accrington on Friday. Shaun Brisley suffered an injury in the last game and his place in the side went to Jack Payne.

Sean Clohessy moved back to right-back with Nicky Hunt switching to centre back. Striker Ollie Palmer also earned a recall to the team with Sammy Moore dropping to the bench.

The visitors needlessly gave the ball away early on and Palmer set up Armand Gnanduillet but his effort looped over Trevor Carson’s crossbar.

Hartlepool’s first effort of the game came from Adam Jackson but the defender’s header flew just wide of Alex Cisak’s post.

United were showing plenty of ambition and confidence as they forced four corners in succession inside the opening 20 minutes of the contest.

The O’s fired in their first effort on target through Gnanduillet but the striker’s shot, from the edge of the area, was straight at Carson.

Jerome Binnom-Williams sent in a delicate cross for Gnanduillet but his header was poor and flew harmlessly over the bar.

Palmer went close to giving Nolan’s side the lead when he cut inside but his shot was deflected out for a corner.

The O’s were enjoying a better spell and Nolan had a chance but his effort was comfortably saved by Carson.

Hartlepool threatened after an excellent delivery from Paynter but Jackson’s header was straight at Cisak.

The visitors were denied a late opener in the first half when Paynter headed in from a free-kick but the offside flag came to Orient’s rescue.

Hartlepool took the lead at the start of the second half when a superb cross from Jake Carroll set up Paynter for a tap-in at the far post.

Orient made a double change with Blair Turgott replacing Gnanduillet and Frazer Shaw coming on for player-manager Nolan.

But Hartlepool struck again with just over 20 minutes remaining when Thomas ran through the hosts’ defence and struck a superb shot into the corner of the net.

The visitors nearly made it 3-0 when Lewis Hawkins’ long-range strike was tipped over the bar by an excellent Cisak save.

Orient made their final change when Lloyd James was thrown on for Payne.

The O’s almost pulled one back but substitute Turgott’s header was cleared off the line by a defender.

Orient kept the pressure on and Binnom-Williams’ header was brilliantly kept out by Carson’s save.

Jay Simpson had a late effort for the O's but his shot was saved by Carson.

United again came close to adding a third goal through Michael Woods on a counter-attack but Cisak parried his effort.

Orient could not find a way back into the match as Hartlepool completed the double over them to finish off a desperately disappointing Easter weekend for Nolan's team.

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Clohessy, Hunt, Ramage, Binnom-Williams; Atangana, Nolan (Shaw, 61), Payne (James, 74); Gnanduillet (Turgott, 61), Palmer, Simpson

Subs not used: Gregory, Moore, Pollock, Koroma

Hartlepool United: Carson; Magnay, Jackson, Bates, Carroll; Gray (Walker, 82), Featherstone, Hawkins (Woods, 75); James (Bingham, 87), Paynter, Thomas

Subs not used: Bartlett, Oates, Richards, Jones

Referee: Frederick Graham

Attendance: 5,543