League One: Leyton Orient 1 Chesterfield 2

Leyton Orient began a new era in fabulous sunshine at Brisbane Road, but were unable to match the glorious conditions as they were soundly beaten by League One new boys Chesterfield.

Strikes from Romuald Boco and Eoin Doyle sealed a successful return to the third tier for the Spireites after their League Two title win last season.

Darius Henderson scored on his debut for the home side, but it wasn’t enough for a flat Orient.

Adam Legzdins, Shane Lowry and Bradley Pritchard made their competitive debuts for the O’s with fellow summer signings Jobi McAnuff, Henderson and Jay Simpson all coming off the substitutes bench.

It was the visitors who looked the better side in the opening exchanges, but Eoin Doyle was unable to latch onto a Gary Roberts pass when clean through on goal. However the Spireites didn’t waste time in taking an early deserved lead.

Jimmy Ryan’s blocked shot fell into the path of debutant Boco who fired a sweet, low cross-angled shot perfectly past a helpless Legzdins.

Orient were looking suspect at the back with Mathieu Baudry seemingly given his own license to roam wherever he seemed fit.

Chesterfield should have been 2-0 up on 15 minutes when a shambolic mix-up between Baudry and Elliot Omozusi allowed Doyle to grab possession and waltz through one-on-one with Legzdins.

But the Irishman was unable to chip accuartely over the Orient keeper as he saw his lofted effort clip the outside of the near post.

The vistors kept piling pressure on a suspect Orient defence, but Gary Roberts had a penalty appeal turned down when challenged by Dean Cox inside the area as referee Mike Bull deemed the striker had gone down too easily.

That galavanised the O’s into action and they forced their first meaningful attempt at goal of the match with David Mooney hitting a tame effort on target.

Moments later Cox had a glorious chance to equalise when an incisive pass by Lloyd James played him clean through on goal on the angle, but he could only shoot straight at Lee with the rebound falling too quickly for a waiting Kevin Lisbie to control.

The Spireites still looked a threat at the other end of the field, with the impressive Gary Roberts going close with a deflected strike.

Lisbie had another rebounded effort fall to him, this time in the penalty box from a throw-in by Nathan Clarke, but again he was unable to beat Lee.

Mooney headed over from a Cox cross on the stroke of half-time as Orient went in to the break behind, but Chesterfield came out for the restart looking positive with Daniel Jones’s deep cross headed over by Ian Evatt.

Paul Cook’s men had another glorious chance to double their lead ten minutes into the second half when Clarke was dispossesed by a hounding Roberts who passed to the unmarked Doyle, but he was once again unable to apply the finishing touch as Legzdins superbly denied the striker.

Summer signings McAnuff, impson and Henderson were brought as the home side looked for an equaliser in front of a 5,000-plus crowd.

Orient huffed and puffed without much attacking nous, with Cox and James failing to impact the game.

Still looking unsure at the back, the match was decided when once again the Orient defence fell asleep.

From an innocuos looking through ball, Doyle was set free one-on-one for the second time against Legzdins. This time he placed his lob just out of the reach of the O’s keeper as he coolly gave the visitors the win.

The hosts made a fight of the last few minutes as Henderson netted on his debut after Lee failed to properly deal with Cox’s fierce free-kick, but it wasn’t enough as Orient had to settle for opening-day defeat.

Leyton Orient: Legzdins, Omozusi, Lowry, Clarke, Baudry, James, Pritchard (McAnuff 59), Vincelot, Cox, Mooney (Henderson 71), Lisbie (Simpson 58).

Unused subs: Sawyer, Batt, Bartley, Woods.

Chesterfield: Lee, Copoer, Evatt, Darikwa, Jones, Roberts, Morsy, Humphreys, Boco, Ryan, Doyle. Unused subs: Hird, O’Shea, Raglan, Dawes, Chapman, Banks, Johnson.

Referee: Michael Bull.

Attendance: 5,619 (including 841 Chesterfield fans).