Substitute Montel Gibson scored from the penalty spot in added time to give Grimsby a 3-2 away win against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.
Conor Wilkinson had given the O’s a fast start when he pounced on a delightful through ball from Ruel Sotiriou and scored after five minutes before the Mariners went in front before the break with two goals from Luke Waterfall and George Williams.
The first came in the 22nd minute when Waterfall’s header from a Williams corner crept over the line.
Then in the 32nd minute, the busy Owen Windsor played a through ball to Williams who coolly drew the goalkeeper and found the net from 15 yards.
A solo effort from substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew after 75 minutes brought the hosts back on level terms when he cut in from the right before sending a left-footed drive into the far corner.
But with a draw beckoning, Grimsby hit Orient on the counter when a mazy run from Windsor led to him being brought down and Gibson clinched the points with his spot-kick.
Orient boss Ross Embleton felt his side deserved at least a point from their performance and was left frustrated by the referee’s decision to not award the Os a penalty for what he felt was a clear handball.
“I think we deserved to get back in the game,” he told the club website.
“With our second half performance we deserved to get a point from the game.
“We’re conceding too many goals which isn’t giving us an opportunity and we had to put in an unbelievable second-half to get anything from the game.”
On the penalty that was not awarded he added: “They’re not going to talk about it, it won’t get no recognition, no one will say anything and the same things will carry on happening. The [referee said] the defenders arms were in a natural position. They weren’t.”
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