Leyton Orient 1 - 0 Oxford United
Coca Cola League Two

CRAIG EASTON headed Orient back to the top of League Two as the O's produced another fine performance on their way to victory over Oxford United.

Although they only found the net once, Orient rarely looked like relinquishing their lead - indeed Oxford failed to force Glyn Garner into a single serious save, despite fighting back well after the break.

And in the end Easton's header - for the second week running coming in the final minute of the first half from the Scottish midfielder - proved enough to lift the O's to the summit.

Orient had found something approaching their top gear at periods during the first-half.

After an early re-shuffle for Oxford, caused through a collision between Jon Ashton and Jabo Ibehre which resulted in the defender leaving the field within the first 30 seconds, the O's took control of the game and forced all the first half chances.

On 16 Shane Tudor, who went on to have another influential game, skipped down the centre past Matt Robinson and supplied a throughball for Ibehre, who flashed in a powerful shot which beat goalkeeper Billy Turley but not defender Leo Roget, who slid the ball off the line.

The game developed into a fast-flowing game, full of hustle and bustle and no shortage of commitment in front of the biggest Brisbane Road crowd of the season.

After 25 minutes Matt Lockwood sent a high ball into the box which saw Ibehre rise with Turley in the air to head the ball down, but Easton scuffed his shot wide from close range.

Six minutes later a glancing Michael Simpson from Justin Miller's cross forced a full-length diving save from Turley, but with the ball not cleared a scramble ensued, resulting in Ibehre poking in a shot which sub Jude Stirling diverted behind.

From the resulting corner, Lockwood fired in a shot over the bar as Orient pushed for the game's opening goal.

And it finally arrived in the final minute of normal time when Lockwood sent the ball wide to Alexander, who touched the ball back for Tudor to cross into the six-yard box where Easton steamed in to head home his second goal in successive games.

Oxford boss Brian Talbot made a double change at the break which proved crucial - introducing fit again Chris Hargreaves and striker Steve Basham.

The U's took the initiative for 15 minutes, passing the ball around effectively only to find their attacks breaking down when they reached the determined O's defence, for whom centre-halves John Mackie and Gabriel Zakuani were once again in commanding form.

Lee Mansell crashed a shot against the bar from a Basham pass, but that was as close as Oxford came to an equaliser.

Basham, dropped in favour of Craig Davies, who he replaced, was proving effective and headed a free-kick over as Orient were forced to defend for a spell, but once they had weathered Oxford's attack, the remainder of the game was comfortable for Martin Ling's side.

Daryl McMahon, on for Joe Keith after 64 minutes, made his mark from the bench, supplying some ammunition for Ibehre and Gary Alexander to chase, but the midfield area dominated the dying stages.

And aside from an injury time chance when Tudor broke clear just inside the Oxford half only to be pulled back by Bradbury, who was booked, there was little further incident.

1	LEYTON ORIENT	COCA COLA LEAGUE 2		OXFORD UNITED	0
1	Glyn GARNER	Brisbane Road - 29/10/05		Billy TURLEY	19
3	Matthew LOCKWOOD	Ref: Andy Penn (W Mids)		Lee MANSELL YC	2
4	Michael SIMPSON	Att: 5286 (774 away)		Matthew ROBINSON	3
6	John MACKIE	Goals:		Barry QUINN	4
8	Craig EASTON	Easton (45)		Chris WILLMOTT (C)	5
9	Gary ALEXANDER (C)			Jon ASHTON	6
11	Joe KEITH			Chris HACKETT	7
14	Gabriel ZAKUANI			Lee BRADBURY YC	8
15	Justin MILLER			Craig DAVIES	12
16	Shane TUDOR			Eric SABIN	18
19	Jabo IBEHRE YC			Leo ROGET	23
	SUBSTITUTES	Replaced (time)		SUBSTITUTES
7	WayneCARLISLE			Chris TARDIF (GK)	1
12	Glenn MORRIS (GK)		12 (HT)	Steve BASHAM	9
17	Daryl McMAHON	11 (64)	7 (HT)	Chris HARGREAVES	10
22	Efe ECHANOMI		6 (3)	Jude STIRLING YC	14
25	Christian HANSON			Robert HUGHES	16