Orient's unbeaten run ended by ten-man Cheltenham (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Orient's unbeaten run ended by ten-man Cheltenham

5:01pm Saturday 13th December 2008 in

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Leyton Orient 1
Cheltenham Town 2
(League One)

ORIENT'S seven match unbeaten run was brought to a juddering halt by ten-man Cheltenham at a rain drenched Brisbane Road.

Barry Hayles had handed the visitors an early lead, before Adam Boyd levelled it up from the penalty spot in an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

But despite seeing Ashley Vincent being given his marching orders by ref Grant Hegley, Martin Allen's men stole the points with a crisp finish from Ian Westlake 12 minutes from time to hand the Robins their first away win in the league this season.

The hosts started brightly and almost raced into a third minute lead, but Boyd's header from Dean Morgan's corner was just over the bar.

And just 60 seconds later the visitors did break the deadlock with their first attack of the afternoon. Veteran striker Hales was gifted too much time by the home defence and fired in a low left footed shot past the despairing dive of Glenn Morris from 20 yards.

Orient once again came close to opening their own scoring account from a corner on 11 minutes. This time Sean Thornton's flag-kick from the left was deflected through to Danny Granville at the far post, but just like Boyd he couldn't get his header on target.

Martin Ling's men continued to press forward and JJ Melligan let fly with a 30-yard effort that flew just wide on 22 minutes.

And it was Melligan, who carved out the Londoner's next effort on 24 minutes with a cross from the the left, but Boyd's looping header was comfortably saved by Scott P Brown.

Cheltenham went back on the attack three minutes later and Scott Murray placed the ball in a real corridor of uncertainty across the home box from the left, but Granville got back well to cut out the danger.

Tamika Mkandawire then headed just over the visitors' bar, before the O's were handed a golden chance to level the scores from the penalty spot after Robins skipper Drissa Diallo clumsily brought down Morgan in the box. Boyd stepped up to drill home the resulting 33rd minute spot kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Then just two minutes later Thornton almost put the hosts in front with a diving header that brought out an excellent block from Brown.

A neat flowing move by the home team then resulted in a shot just inside the area from Adam Chambers on 41 minutes that Brown got down well to save.

Orient had the first chance of the second half when Boyd almost caught Brown off his line from 40 yards, but his effort was just too high and wide on 47 minutes.

And Boyd went even closer in the 55th minute when he flicked Melligan's right wing cross just wide of the left-hand upright.

Murray put in another dangerous low cross into the O's box on 64 minutes, but Morris was down well to smother the ball up.

The home side went back on the attack and Parkin played in Morgan on the left-hand side of the box, although his low shot only managed to hit the side netting.

Cheltenham then found themselves a man down after Vincent was handed a second yellow card after ref Hegley had deemed him to have brought down Melligan in front of the O's dugout in the 71st minute.

Boyd had Orient's next shot at goal, but fired wide in the 74th minute with his left foot.

But it was the visitors, who retook the lead on 78 minutes after Westlake clinically fired in from the left-hand side of the box.

The O's came with in the width of the crossbar of levelling the scores within two minutes, as Chambers glancing header from Melligan's cross crashed against the top of the woodwork.

And the Londoners luck just wasn't in as two minutes from time Boyd thumped the bar once again with a powerful header from Melligan's precise cross from the right.

Orient: Morris, Purches, Mkandawire, Thelwell, Granville (Jarvis 80); Melligan, Chambers,Thornton, Morgan; Boyd, Parkin. Subs: Jones (GK), Saah, Terry, Spence.