Leyton Orient were brought back down to earth after losing 4-0 to Exeter City at St James’ Park in a League Two fixture.

A Ryan Harley double and one a piece from David Wheeler and Liam McAlinden sealed the three points for the home side as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven.

Paul McCallum had the best chance for Orient in the opening minute of the match but Christy Pym was equal to his effort.

The E10 club only has six days before they host Barnet at Brisbane Road and will hope they can gain their first point in 2017.

Orient was forced to make three changes for today’s match with Teddy Mezague, Sam Dalby and Sandro Semedo all picking up injuries in their 1-1 draw with Cambridge United on New Year’s Eve.

McCallum was denied an early opener by Pym who managed to keep the striker's header out following a Gavin Massey cross.

The deadlock was short-lived when Wheeler prodded the ball beyond Alex Cisak to open the scoring in the fourth minute.

McCallum tried to find the instant equaliser when he knocked down the ball at the far post a few minutes later but it could only bounce across the box.

It what looked a nervy O’s back four, Ollie Watkins almost made it two but his right footed shot could only go past Cisak’s left post.

Only 15 minutes into the game Watkins had another chance to increase City’s lead when Craig Woodman played a lovely through ball but Cisak was equal to the effort and the resulting corner came to nothing.

A minute later, Watkins was causing Orient all sorts of trouble when he dragged a shot just wide and hit the side netting.

Cisak was continually called into action and thwarted a Reuben Reid chance before Watkins put the ball into the back of the net following a pass from former O Lloyd James but was flagged for offside.

On the 26th minute, Watkins looked as though he would try and chip a shot over Cisak but the ball went well wide.

McCallum once again almost found the equaliser when he met Myles Judd’s cross but it was collected by Pym with Ollie Palmer closing in.

There was another huge let-off for the O’s when Watkins was denied by the post before Parkes got back to clear off the line.

Nigel Atangana tried to attempt a half-volley from 20-yards after he received the ball but his shot went well over Pym’s goal.

Watkins produced an excellent turn just after the half an hour mark which saw him drive at the Orient defence. He tried to square it to Reid but Orient cleared the danger.

At the beginning of the final 45, Exeter thought they had received a penalty after Parkes brought him down in the area but referee Michael Salisbury waved the claims away.

It was not before long The Grecians found their second when Wheeler’s cross found Harley who tapped in from close range.

And the afternoon only got worse for the O’s when Parkes brought down Watkins in the box and Harley converted from the spot to make it three nil to the hosts.

City looked to make it four with quick pace from Watkins and Harley but Hunt tracked back to clear the danger.

Massey tried to score a consolation goal in the 68th minute for the O’s but his volley flew over Pym’s goal.

Josh Koroma was unfortunate not to receive a penalty when he was brought down in the area after beating two Grecian defenders in the 75th minute.

The goals did not stop there for Exeter as substitute McAlinden slotted the ball past Cisak after Atangana gave the ball away inside his own half.

It remained quite one-way traffic until the end of the match and it looks as if Andy Edwards needs to make important signings in the January transfer window.

Orient starting XI: Cisak, Judd, Parkes, Erichot, Hunt, Atangana, Collins, Kennedy (Koroma 59), Massey, McCallum, Palmer (Weir 73 – Adeboyejo 87)

Subs not used: Sargeant, Bowery, Pollock, Ochieng

Exeter starting XI: Pym, Woodman (Archibald Henville 83), James, Tillson, Harley (Simpson 74), Wheeler, Watkins, Moore-Taylor, Stacey, Reid (McAlinden 63), Brown

Subs not used: Olejnik, Archibald-Henville, Taylor, Ampadu, Sweeney