Two up but Orient hit by a Colchester comeback

TWO goals in the opening 17 minutes from ALex Revell put Orient in a powerful position as they went looking for their first away win in the league since January.

But their dreams of breaking that away-day duck were shattered as Colchester came storming back with goals from Matt Heath and a David Mooney penalty.

It was Colchester who made a fast start and three times in the opening three minutes O’s keeper Lee Butcher had to make decent saves.

As Orient came under heavy pressure the hosts forced three corners before the visitors were able to gain some respite.

But it was the O’s who struck first on 10 minutes when Dean Cox floated in a perfect free-kick from the left and lone striker Alex Revell rose magnificently to head home his fifth goal of the season.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the home side and O’s were in dreamland eight minutes later when they scored number two with their second meaningful attack.

Jimmy Smith made a great interception and sent Charlie Daniels away down the right and his cross was swept home by Revell for his second of the game.

But the travelling Orient fans were left chewing their finger nails three minutes later when Matt Heath fired the ball into the Orient net from 10 yards after the O’s had several chances to clear a corner, but failed to do so.

Then, on 30 minutes, O’s saw their two-goal lead wiped out when Andrew Whing, on his debut after joining on loan from Brighton, caught Ashley Vincent from behind and referee Grant Hegley had no hesitation pointing to the spot.

David Mooney stepped up and made no mistake as he fired the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Whing, was one of two changes to the side that beat Rochdale, as he and Adam Chambers came into the side at the expense of Ryan Jarvis and skipper Stephen Dawson, who failed a fitness check on an ankle injury.

O’s tried to hit back and Cox went close just before the break

Orient: Butcher, Omozusi, Chorley, Forbes, Whing, Cox, Spring, Chambers, Smith, Cox, Revell. Subs: Jones, Brown, Dawson, Jarvis, Tehoue, Cestor, Walker.

Referee: G Hegley.