Yeovil Town 1 - 0 Leyton Orient
Coca Cola League Two

YEOVIL TOWN edged a step closer to promotion as they hammered another nail in the coffin of Orient's play-off hopes.

Phil Jevons' early penalty was enough to settle the clash, but Orient were pushing for an equaliser as the match went on until sub Efe Echanomi was sent-off 12 minutes from time - a decision which took the impetus away from the visitors.

For all their possession, Orient rarely tested Yeovil goalkeeper Chris Weale and although nerves set in amongst the league leaders in the second-half, they were able to record a tenth home win in 11 games.

The opening period looked ominous for the O's with the Glovers' quick, slick passing proving too much for them on occasions.

In the sixth minute Lee Harrison did well to tip a Darren Way shot around the post but seconds later the midfielder got the better of the Orient keeper when he tried to latch on to a ball forward from the right and was fouled in the box by Harrison.

Although Arron Davies put the loose ball home, referee Mick Fletcher awarded a penalty and Jevons coolly converted to end a personal three-game spell without a goal with his tenth penalty of the campaign.

Yeovil continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession, but were held at bay by some determined defending from the O's, who ensured they would find chances hard to come by.

After 19 minutes Andy Lindegaard was rightly booked for diving by the referee as he threw himself over a Daryl McMahon challenge but Town maintained the initiative regardless.

The swirling wind was making it hard for Orient to clear their lines, and Yeovil's defence were aerially dominant, reducing the threat posed by Lee Steele and Tom Youngs, Orient's new look strike pairing.

Both sides matched each other with 442 formations, but there was still scope for counter-attacking and as the half progressed, gradually the O's found their passing game and used the midfield, including Wayne Carlisle for the first time in two-and-a-half months, to better effect.

Despite a number of early corners, their first chance came after 37 minutes when Justin Miller dispossessed Jevons and broke through the middle, feeding Andy Scott, whose cross was headed over by Youngs.

A minute later it was Youngs' turn to cross for Scott, but he skewed his shot wide from the edge of the area.

Despite an injury time save from Harrison, who used his legs to block a Paul Terry effort, it was the O's who ended the first half in stronger shape.

Their creativity was hampered however by poor delivery from set-pieces, but they began to use the wings more effectively, and penned Yeovil back.

Youngs hit a weak shot from the edge of the area after 64 minutes which Weale dived on but then two minutes later Harrison did well to parry a fierce Davies volley at the other end.

After Carlisle and Matt Lockwood - who suffered a thigh strain - were replaced, Orient kept their stride, but Echanomi's intended impact on the suspect looking home centre-backs was nullified with his dismissal for an elbow thrown in the face of Lindegaard.

The best chance Orient created had come with 19 remaining after Terry Skiverton and Kevin Amankwaah made a hash of dealing with a long clearance from McMahon and Steele nipped in, only to have the ball taken from his toes by Weale's desperate dive.

Scott, Youngs and John Mackie were all thrown forward, and Orient continued to play the ball to the edge of the Town area, but aside from a McMahon drive straight at Weale, there were no real anxious moments for the home defence.

Indeed, as Orient threw more men into attack, spaces opened up for the home side late on, but wayward Yeovil shooting prevented further scoring.

1	Yeovil Town	Coca-Cola League Two		Leyton Orient	0
1	Christopher WEALE	Huish Park - 3pm		Lee HARRISON YC	12
3	Michael ROSE	Referee:		Matt LOCKWOOD	3
4	Terry SKIVERTON YC (C)	Mick FLETCHER		Michael SIMPSON YC (C)	4
6	Darrren WAY	(Worcestershire)		John MACKIE	6
7	Paul TERRY	Goal:		Wayne CARLISLE	7
8	Lee JOHNSON YC	Jevons (7, pen)		Lee STEELE	10
11	Phil JEVONS			Andy SCOTT YC	11
12	Kevin AMANKWAAH			Justin MILLER	15
16	Andrew LINDEGAARD YC			Tom YOUNGS	16
18	Bartosz TARACHULSKI			Gabriel ZAKUANI	20
25	Arron DAVIES			Daryl McMAHON YC	24
	Substitutes	Replaced (time)		Substitutes
2	Adam LOCKWOOD			Glenn MORRIS (GK)	1
9	Kevin GALL	16 (82)	3 (68)	Donny BARNARD	2
10	Rory FALLON	18 (35)		David HUNT	8
13	Steve COLLIS (GK)			Derek DUNCAN	22
27	Andrejs STOLCERS		7 (65)	Efe ECHANOMI RC	26