Orient’s Baudry brings Magpies run to an end

Defender Mathieu Baudry netted his third goal of the season as Leyton Orient won for the first time in five matches.

Baudry’s volley came just minutes after David Mooney had opened the scoring, but a goal from Jeff Hughes ensured the O’s had to survive a nervous end to the game as Notts County’s incredible run of 22 matches without defeat on their travels came to an end.

Orient boss Russell Slade made one change to the side that drew 2-2 in the midweek London derby against Brentford, with defender Scott Cuthbert replacing midfielder Jimmy Smith, meaning a more advanced role on the right-flank for Moses Odubajo.

A fabulous start to the game from County was almost capped with a goal when a flowing, passing move culminated in Alan Judge’s shot being blocked by Lloyd James on the edge of the box.

The visitors continued to enjoy a good spell of possession – despite a patchy playing surface – but the O’s almost snatched the lead inside 10 minutes when Lee Cook’s shot was deflected into the path of Mooney, but the Irishman lashed wide from a difficult angle.

The game lost some momentum when goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski needed lengthy treatment for a head injury following a collision with Orient striker Charlie MacDonald – eventually leading to the County number one being carried off on a stretcher.

On 31 minutes Cook tested substitute goalkeeper Fabian Speiss for the first time, but the German stopper – making only his second senior appearance in the Football League – got a strong hand to the midfielder’s 20-yard drive.

Ex-Orient loanee Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who gave left-back Gary Sawyer a torrid afternoon, miscued a half-volley over the crossbar before the interval.

But two minutes into the eight allocated for first-half stoppage time, County were denied the opener by the woodwork, when Yoann Arquin’s header left Jamie Jones motionless and the Orient keeper was grateful to see the ball bounce back off the crossbar.

In the final minute before half-time powerful forward Enoch Showunmi rose above defender Ben Chorley to head a corner goalwards, but James was well-placed on the goal-line to clear.

Showunmi had the first chance of the second period too, but headed over Campbell-Ryce’s cross.

On 56 minutes, a stunning finger-tip save from Speiss denied the home side, after Baudry had deflected Martin Rowlands’ free-kick seemingly out of the clutches of the rookie keeper.

The O’s finally made the breakthrough on 65 minutes when Mooney headed in his 11th goal of the season.

Odubajo went on a, now trademark, lung-busting run through the middle and fed Cook, whose low drive squirmed underneath Speiss and onto the crossbar, but Mooney was perfectly placed to nod in from close range.

Three minutes later the points were made safe when Baudry arrived late in the box to volley in Cook’s out-swinging corner.

On 78 minutes the Magpies grabbed a lifeline when Showunmi’s blocked shot bounced through for Hughes to power past Jones from 10 yards.

And Hughes should have levelled with four minutes to play, after rising highest inside the box to meet Judge’s cross, but glanced his header wide.

Leyton Orient: Jones, Cuthbert, Chorley, Baudry, Sawyer, Odubajo, James, Rowlands (J Smith 90), Cook (Cox 85), Mooney, McDonald. Subs not used: Grainger, Griffith, Symes, Obafemi, Omozusi.

Notts County: Bialkowski (Speiss 18), Sheehan, Leacock, Liddle, Campbell-Ryce, Hughes, Bishop, Boucaud, Judge (Bencherif 88), Arquin (Nangle 68), Showunmi. Subs not used: Kelly, Smith, Mahon, Labadie.

Attendance: 3,578 (446 away).