League One: Leyton Orient 2 Shrewsbury Town 1

Two goals from fit-again striker Kevin Lisbie ended Orient’s goal drought and saw them take three vital points against fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town.

Orient had scored just once in the last seven league games, but Lisbie, making his first start in eight after picking up a hamstring injury against Sheffield United, fired Orient ahead with a first-half penalty.

Then, after Jon Taylor smashed the visitors level in the second half, Lisbie headed home a dramatic winner three minutes from time.

After the game a delighted Orient manager Russell Slade praised his two-goal striker: “It has been tough without him and he showed that little bit of quality,” said Slade.

“There are other things that he brings to the table. He scored two goals, but he holds the ball up so well and is so clever the way he manipulates the ball.”

After four straight league defeats the O’s boss was delighted to return to winning ways. “It’s been long awaited, I couldn’t even look at the penalty to be honest,” he said.

“And I’ve been a grumpy old so-and-so for the last few weeks, so I’ll probably talk to the missus now and sort my own life out a bit, because it’s been tough and if fans don’t think it’s tough on a manager it is.

“It’s tough on your team and you keep working and you keep trying to believe and you keep trying to instil that belief which we did today.

“It was great that the fans stayed behind us because we created opportunities throughout the game to score more than two and we have got to use that as a platform, a little bit of a boost to move forward once more.”

Slade made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at the MK Dons with Lisbie returning to spearhead the attack and Jimmy Smith back in midfield, as Anthony Griffith and Scott Wagstaff dropped to the bench.

In a lively first half the O’s almost grabbed the lead after 42 seconds when Moses Odubajo went on a right-wing run and cut the ball back for Martin Rowlands to pick out Smith’s run.

The O’s midfielder flicked the ball past Chris Weale in the visiting goal, but the ball hit the left-hand post.

David Mooney then sent Lisbie clear and when his shot was parried by Weale, Smith’s follow-up effort was deflected over the bar.

But after Orient’s good start, it was Shrewsbury who took a foothold and the on-loan Luke Rodgers latched onto Ben Chorley’s misplaced header, but rolled his shot wide.

Ryan Allsop in the home goal made a smart stop from Jon Taylor and then Marvin Morgan looped an effort over the bar from close range as Orient were rocking.

But it was Slade’s side who made the all-important breakthrough and ended their goal drought on 33 minutes when Mooney threaded a ball inside Jeremy Helan who brought down Odubajo who was on the charge.

Referee Carl Berry pointed to the spot and hit man Lisbie stepped up and rolled the spot-kick to the right of the keeper and into the net.

It was the signal for O’s to go for the jugular and Chorley almost added a second but fired over.

After the break Orient continued to press as they went looking for a second goal and Lee Cook became more of an influence as he supplied some dangerous crosses.

The winger also picked up a yellow card for diving before he sent in an excellent cross that Mooney headed wide.

But O’s failed to add to their tally and paid the price on 70 minutes when Shrewsbury levelled with a well-worked goal down the left.

Rodgers and Morgan were involved in the build up and Taylor fired home the leveller.

The home side came close to regaining the lead on 76 minutes when substitute Ryan Brunt saw his effort from eight yards tipped over by Weale.

And the visiting keeper made an even better save two minutes later when Cook threaded the ball into Lisbie, who turned a defender and then sent in shot that Weale somehow turned away.

But there was to be no denying the Orient striker and three minutes from time Lisbie appeared through a pack of players and headed home substitute Dean Cox’s right-wing corner for what turned out to be the winner as Slade’s side picked up their first win in five.

Leyton Orient: Allsop 7, Odubajo 7, Clarke 7, Chorley 7, Sawyer 7; James 7, Rowlands 7, Smith 7 (Cox 79 mins), Cook 7 (Wagstaff 84); Lisbie 8, Mooney 7 (Brunt 68 mins). Subs: Jones, McSweeney, Baudry, Griffith

Orient bookings: Cook (53 minutes unsporting behaviour)

Shreswsbury Town: Weale, Grandison, Summerfield, Jones, Purdie, Richards, Morgan, Taylor, Helan (Parry 68 mins), Bennett, Rodgers. Subs: Anyon, Wright, Hall, Collins, Parry, Wildig, Proctor.

Shrewsbury bookings: Taylor (40 mins foul)

Referee: Carl Berry

Attendance: 3,822 (inc 425 Shrewsbury fans)