League One: Leyton Orient 1 Chetserfield 1

Basement boys Chesterfield battled back in the second half to grab a point when Jimmy Juan struck to wipe out David Mooney’s first-half strike.

The O’s looked on course for all three points after dominating the first half, but failed to kill the game off when they were on top and the Spireites hit back to level, but remain bottom of the table and have not won in 17 league games.

A disappointed O’s boss Russell Slade said: “I know we got booed off at the end, but I thought that some of the football we played today was really good.

“I think that the disappointment for me, the players and the fans is the result because we should have wrapped the game up.

“Let’s be honest, Lisbie had a good chance, their keeper has made a good save from Mooney in the second half, we’ve hit the woodwork and we have scored one of the best goals since I have been here.

“It was a terrific goal and the sad thing is in the first 15 minutes of the second half we didn’t go on and build on that.

“They’ve hit the target two or three times and we have hit it seven or eight times. It was frustrating, but there were some good things in there.”

Slade had made two changes to the side that lost 4-1 at Carlisle, as Dean Cox returned for his first start since mid-November after suffering a knee ligament injury and played in a central midfield role.

While Jimmy Smith also returned and played on the right as skipper Stephen Dawson was ruled out through injury and Marc Laird dropped to the bench.

After a slow start it was Orient who started to take a grip and Smith, who made some enterprising runs into the Chesterfield penalty area, threatened on a couple of occasions

On 18 minutes the midfielder was picked out by Cox and although he controlled the ball he couldn’t get a shot off on target.

Sixty second later Cox sent a long ball out to the impressive Leon McSweeney, who was galloping down the right and his cross was met first time by Kevin Lisbie, but Tommy Lee pulled off a smart save in the visiting goal.

As O’s pressed Lisbie had another shooting opportunity, but dragged his effort wide.

Chesterfield started to gain a foothold in the game and their first genuine effort came on 36 minutes when Scott Boden looped an effort just over the bar from the edge of the area.

But the goal the home side deserved finally came just three minutes before the break when Lee Cook, on loan from QPR, sent in an excellent cross from the left and Mooney was on hand to volley home from six yards.

Orient made a bright start to the second half and almost doubled their advantage when Cox saw a shot blocked and the ball fell neatly to Cook at the edge of the area, but his well-struck volley zipped just over the bar.

Orient could have added to their tally on 64 minutes when Mooney did well and put Lisbie through, but his shot from 16 yards was well blocked by keeper Lee with his legs.

With Chesterfield starting to battle their way back into the game both managers made a change on 68 minutes as Marc Laird replaced Cook, while Jack Lester came on for Boden.

And it was the visitors who profited, as they levelled within 60 seconds of the change when Liam Ridehalgh crossed from the left and Juan was able to swivel and fire low into the corner of the net past Lee Butcher.

The reverse stung Orient and Cox went close to restoring the home side’s advantage when his shot from 20 yards thudded against the upright.

Then Mooney tried his luck from the same sort of distance, but Lee pulled off a smart diving save.

As both sides went for the winner, O’s almost netted when a clearance fell to Scott Cuthbert but his fierce shot was blocked.

Then, on 90 minutes, Laird found substitute Jamie Cureton on the right and his cross shot hit the bar and with it went Orient’s last chance of victory

Orient: Butcher 7, *McSweeney 7, Forbes 6, Cuthbert 7, Chicksen 6, Cox 7, Spring, 7 Smith 6, Cook 7 (Laird 68 mins), Mooney 7 (Cureton 84 mins), Lisbie 6 (Tehoue 75 mins). Subs: Youssef, Porter.

Chesterfield: Lee, Trotman, Robertson, Whitaker, Ridehalgh, Hurst, Boden (Lester 68 mins), Bowrey, Juan, Talbot, Davis. Subs: Fleming, Niven, Mendy, Smith.

Chesterfield bookings Davis (45 mins foul)

Attendance: 4,147 (inc 330 Chesterfield fans)

Referee: Graham Scott