Orient break the deadlock just before half-time

Half-time: Orient 1 Colchester United 0

AN excellent headed goal from Jimmy Smith on 41 minutes gave Orient the lead in this derby duel as the home side looked to bounce back from Saturday’s hammering at Brighton.

Dean Cox, back in the side and full of meance down the left, provided the perfect cross and Smith rose high at the far post and sent a header looping into the corner of the net.

It was Orient who had the first chance of the gane when a Charlie Daniels corner from the right was met by Ben Chorley, but his header went straight into the arms of Colchester keeper Ben Williams.

Colchester hit back and Andrew Bond fired in a snapshot from the edge of the area that Orient keeper Jamie Jones did well to hold.

The O’s keeper was the busier of the two in the early stages and shortly afterwards he dived full length to beat away a fierce shot from Ian Henderson.

Orient weathered the storm and hit back when Stephen Dawson went on a run down the left and cut the ball back for Scott McGleish, who fired an effort from a tight angle into the side netting.

In a bid to get his side back to winning ways Orient manager Russell Slade made two changes to the side beaten at Brighton, as on loan defender Andrew Whing returned to the back four in place of Aaron Brown, who dropped to the bench.

The move saw full back Elliot Omozusi switch to the centre of the defence alongside Ben Chorley.

While Cox returned to the starting 11 in place of Tottenham loanee Paul-Jose M’Poku and it was the diminutive winger, linking well with Daniels, that caused Colchester problems and he finally provided the key to unlock the visiting defence.

Orient: Jones, Whing, Omozusi, Chorley, Daniels, Smith, Spring, Dawson, Cox, McGleish, Revell. Subs: Butcher,Brown, Chambers, Tehoue, Cestor, Walker, M’Poku.

Referee: Danny McDermid