Leyton Orient suffered late heartbreak after they lost 3-2 to Notts County at Brisbane Road in a Sky Bet League Two fixture.

A Jon Stead double and one from Jorge Grant in the first was enough to send the three points back home with former O’s boss Kevin Nolan.

Paul McCallum reduced the deficit and Teddy Mezague thought he had found the equaliser for the E10 club but it was not to be.

Danny Webb will have to regroup his players with Cheltenham, who defeated Yeovil Town 2-0, visiting next week at the Matchroom Stadium.

The game got off to a bad start for the O’s when Tom Parkes had to be stretched off the pitch with a hip injury after an incident with Shola Ameobi after five minutes.

The central defender was replaced by Sam Dalby. Callum Kennedy moved into the middle and Sandro Semedo dropped to left-back.

But despite the early sub, Gavin Massey earned the O’s the first chance of the game when he burst down the left before being denied by Adam Collin.

The winger then crossed it in for Sam Dalby and Paul McCallum who were unable to convert and the County defence managed to clear the impending danger.

Five minutes later, Michael Collins floated in a free-kick into the box which was headed on by McCallum but Collin easily claimed the ball.

County gained a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the penalty area but Mark Yeates’ kick was blocked by the wall.

The visitors managed to swing the ball back into the box but Sargeant was equal to the effort.

Orient had another chance to open the scoring after Sandro Semedo got the ball and crossed into the 12-yard area.

Nigel Atangana ran and found himself some space but could only poke his shot well wide of the post.

But it was the Magpies who broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. Teddy Mezague failed to deal with a long goal kick from Collin and Grant poked the ball past Sam Sargeant.

Orient responded positively and Semedo fired wide of the goal after a nice one-two with Massey, three minutes later.

Another chance fell for the E10 club when Collins drove into the area and produced a great cross and Michael O’Connor nearly sliced the ball into his own net.

Orient then had two corners in quick succession but both were dealt with by the County defence.

And one minute before the break, McCallum had a chance to equalise from 12-yards but his first shot was blocked before he was penalised for handball.

In stoppage time, Massey managed a run on his own and cut in from the left but his shot came off of Dalby and trickled behind for goal-kick in what was a frustrating first 45 for the hosts.

It was a nightmare started for Leyton Orient after County went 2-0 up within three minutes after Stead beat Sargeant in the box and his touch went in off the bar.

But Orient responded brilliantly to their second as skipper for the day McCallum headed home after Atangana was denied by the bar.

There was a huge appeal for a penalty for the O’s in the 54th minute when it looked as though Dalby’s cross hit a hand but the referee Brett Huxtable waved play on.

Orient had another chance to find the equaliser when Myles Judd’s cross dropped for Atangana but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

The Magpies could have made it three was it not for Kennedy who made two vital blocks on the line to deny the visitors doubling their lead once again.

On the 70th minute, Stead wasted a good chance to double his tally when he headed wide from six-yards out.

Nine minutes later Judd looped in a cross into the area which had Collin scrambling but Atangana was unable to apply a crucial touch.

Mezague thought he gained the equaliser when he smashed the ball home with eight minutes to play but the O’s faithful hearts broke when Stead restored County’s lead.

Orient starting XI: Sargeant, Judd, Mezague, Parkes (Dalby 9) Kennedy, Atangana, Collins, Semedo, Koroma, Massey, McCallum

Subs not used: Grainger, Clark, Moore, Moncur, Alzate, Liburd

Magpies starting XI: Collin, Duffy, O’Connor, Ameobi, Yeates (Thompson 79), Milson, Bola, Grant, Hewitt, Clackstone, Stead (Smith 89)

Subs not used: Loach, Dickinson, Smith, Hollis, Forte, Campbell