A late own goal handed Leyton Orient a vital 1-0 home win over Morecambe to boost their League Two play-off hopes.

Morecambe goalkeeper Barry Roche was sent off after conceding a penalty early on but Jay Simpson’s spot-kick was saved by stand-in Kieron O’Hara.

Orient had plenty of chances to score but ultimately benefited from a huge break late on after a clearance struck Ryan Edwards and rebounded into his own net.

It was an unlikely breakthrough but a crucial one nonetheless as Kevin Nolan’s side recorded back-to-back wins to keep firmly in the running for a top-seven finish.

The O’s made two changes from the side which won at Oxford last weekend. Coventry loanee Peter Ramage slotted into the defence in place of suspended captain Mathieu Baudry.

Armand Gnanduillet returned to the attack in place of Calaum Jahraldo-Martin while Lloyd James and Sammy Moore were both fit to start on the bench.

The visitors were reduced to ten men after just 12 minutes when Roche was sent off for bringing down Simpson in the area.

But Orient spurned the opportunity to take the lead with Simpson’s penalty saved by replacement goalkeeper O’Hara.

The O’s created a chance when Jerome Binnom-Williams teed up Gnanduillet but the striker turned and hooked his shot high and wide of the target.

Player-boss Nolan raced towards the visitors’ goal but his effort was deflected off a defender and easily claimed by Manchester United loanee O’Hara.

The hosts had another effort on goal from Sean Clohessy’s cross but Simpson’s header was caught by O’Hara.

Orient were denied the opener after half an hour when Gnanduillet’s header from a Clohessy delivery was tipped onto the crossbar by O’Hara.

The O’s were pushing for the breakthrough but Simpson’s low strike just before the break was straight at O’Hara.

Simpson had another effort but his low volley was saved by the impressive back-up keeper.

Orient made a double change for the second half with James, in his first appearance since December, and Moore brought on for Clohessy and Nigel Atangana.

The O’s stepped up the pressure and Binnom-Williams was denied by another save from O’Hara.

Orient were in control and Nolan was the next to threaten but his header was tipped over by the busy O’Hara.

It was one-way traffic but the hosts were again frustrated after O’Hara made superb saves to tip away Gnanduillet’s strike and then a header from Shaun Brisley.

The hosts made their final change, midway through the second half, when Ollie Palmer replaced player-boss Nolan and Orient went with three strikers in attack.

Orient were becoming increasingly frustrated and Moore could only lift his long-range strike harmlessly over Morecambe’s crossbar.

The O’s went close to the elusive breakthrough from a Palmer header but the striker’s looping effort bounced onto the top of the bar.

But Orient finally grabbed the goal they deserved in the 80th minute in the most unlikely of circumstances. A ball into the area was cleared by Alan Goodall but it smashed against Edwards and flew past his own keeper.

It was harsh on O'Hara after a superb performance as a substitute but a crucial three points for the O's and a much-needed home victory in their quest for a play-off place.

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Hunt, Ramage, Brisley, Binnom-Williams; Clohessy (Moore, HT), Atangana (James, HT), McAnuff, Nolan (Palmer, 66); Gnanduillet, Simpson

Subs not used: Gregory, Turgott, Jahraldo-Martin, Pollock

Morecambe: Roche; Beeley, Edwards, Goodall, Conlan (Wildig, 84); Ellison, Kenyon, Fleming, Devitt (O’Hara, 13), Barkhuizen; Miller (McGowan, 72)

Subs not used: O’Hara, Molyneux, Mullin, Stockton, McKnight

Referee: David Coote

Attendance: 4,442