A late own goal from Salford City goalkeeper Chris Neal ensured that Leyton Orient came back with a point from their visit up north.

Salford had taken the lead early on the game when Richie Towell's strike from the edge of the box flew in off the post, but Orient's persistence finally paid off when James Brophy forced the Salford keeper to poke the ball into his own net.

Ross Embleton made just one change from the side that had been defeated at home to Crawley Town last week, with Dan Happe returning to the line-up in place of Jordan Maguire-Drew, who dropped to the bench.

Conor Wilkinson had the game's first meaningful chance inside the opening minutes, but he saw his effort dealt with by Neal.

Salford then opened the scoring at the other end when a throw-in from the right bounced all the way through to Towell, and he struck on the half-volley past the static Dean Brill to give the hosts the lead.

That goal seemed to spark some life into Salford and they were looking the far more likely team to get the next goal.

Manny Dieseruvwe saw a header from Danny Lloyd's free-kick wonderfully tipped onto the crossbar, and he then thought he had had a hand in a second goal for Salford when his shot was parried by Brill into Adam Rooney's path, but he converted from an offside position.

The second half saw Orient come back into the game more and they began to hammer on Salford's door. Craig Clay came close with two efforts that took deflections and Lee Angol's hit whistled just wide of the post.

Much like this meeting last season in the National League, the persistence from Orient finally paid off as, in the 87th minute, their equaliser came.

A scramble in the area after James Brophy's effort saw Neal unable to gather the ball, and in an attempt to get it in his grasp he inadvertently poked the ball over the line to draw the O's level.

That was the last real chance of the game, with a share of the points probably fair on the balance of play.

The O's next take to the pitch on Tuesday night when they entertain Southend United in their first EFL Trophy match of the season, while their next league game also comes at home, this time against Swindon Town on Saturday.

Orient line-up: Brill; Coulson, Ekpiteta, Happe; Ling, Wright, Clay, Brophy; Dennis, Wilkinson, Angol

Subs: Sargeant, Gorman, Maguire-Drew, Judd, Harrold, Marsh, Alabi