Leyton Orient 2 - 1 Swindon Town
Coca-Cola League One
TWO goals at the start of the second half from Adam Boyd gave Orient their first home win in five attempts as they came from behind to beat Swindon Town 2-1.
Three points seemed a distant prospect after a dismal opening period in which an Alton Thelwell own goal gave the visitors the lead.
But Orient hit back after the break with gusto and Boyd's double - the first a penalty and the second a smart header - gave them the points.
Swindon created two chances in the very first minute of the game, almost taking advantage of a slack Orient start.
The first, with 20 seconds on the clock, saw Blair Sturrock shoot straight at Glenn Morris after Aiden Palmer let the ball bounce in the box, and then Simon Cox drilled an angled effort just past the post after being fed in down the right.
The blustery conditions were making flowing football difficult, but it was a quality ball into the box from Swindon winger Anthony McNamee that forced the opening goal on 20 minutes.
McNamee's cross was in that dangerous corridor between defender and goalkeeper, and Thelwell had to go for it, but could only manage to divert the ball past the stranded Morris.
Jason Demetriou curled an effort way over the Swindon crossbar on 32, but again Orient were struggling to make headway against their visitors.
McNamee, the former Watford winger, continued to look dangerous and he drove at the O's backline before shooting wide of the mark two minutes before the break.
Orient came out with more of a purpose at the start of the second period and they were handed a golden opportunity to level on 51 when Boyd was chopped down in the area by Miguel Comminges.
The O's striker dusted himself down and made no mistake from the spot, smashing his penalty into the top left corner.
Paul Terry came desperately close to finding his first O's goal almost immediately afterwards, but Jerel Ifil managed to block his effort on the line after Boyd beat Robins keeper Peter Brezovan to Adam Chambers' pass and cut the ball back.
However, Orient didn't have to wait long to take the lead, with Boyd nodding Orient in front after he was left totally unmarked from a Melligan cross.
Swindon's Cox had a good opportunity to level on 64, but he couldn't get a decent connection on the ball as it fizzed across the area and he sent the ball over the bar.
It sparked a decent spell of pressure from the visitors and Morris had to get down well to turn Jon-Paul McGovern's stinging effort from the edge of the box around the post.
Their best chance fell to Cox 15 minutes from time, but he somehow contrived to send the ball over the bar after Sofiene Zaaboub dispossed Palmer and crossed for the striker, totally free in the middle for what looked like a simple finish.
O's sub Jabo Ibehre forced a save from Brezovan above his head with a forceful header two minutes before the end, but Orient had done enough for victory in that devastating start to the second period.
Leyton Orient: Morris; Chambers, Thelwell, Saah, Palmer; Melligan, Terry, Thornton, Demetriou; Gray (Ibehre 78), Boyd (Barcham 84)
Subs: Nelson (GK), Corden, Fortune
Goals: Boyd pen 51, 55
Swindon: Brezovan, J Smith, Ifil, Aljofree, Comminges; McGovern, Easton, Allen (Zaaboub 25), McNamee (Ashikodi 81); Cox, Sturrock
Subs: P Smith (GK), Vincent, Morrison
Goal: Thelwell og 20
Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)
Attendance: 3,082 (413 away)
