Leyton Orient 1 - 1 Doncaster Rovers
Coca-Cola League One
ORIENT stopped the rot with a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, although the Londoners may feel disappointed not to have taken all three points after seeing a first half lead slip.
Martin Ling's men gave a vastly improved performance to recent weeks and their attack-minded 4-3-3 formation paid dividends when Wayne Gray nodded them in front on 44 minutes.
The O's continued to look on top at the start of the second period, but Mark McCammon levelled on the hour and that goal injected new vigour into the visitors' play.
Matt Mills hit the post, while Glenn Morris - making his 100th start for the club - saved brilliantly from Richie Wellens and McCammon,
But both sides had to settle for a point, and Orient will take that after their recent run.
Orient manager MaLing sent his side out in a 4-3-3 formation as he looked to halt their recent run of defeats, and Stephen Purches combined well with Gray before shooting off target in the eighth minute.
Doncaster were looking to get forward at every opportunity too, and James Coppinger wasted a good chance at the far post three minutes later, drilling wide after Gareth Taylor missed his kick in front of goal.
Orient were showing a lot more attacking intent than in recent weeks and Charlie Daniels tried his luck from range after Doncaster only cleared a corner as far as the left back.
Daniels' shot flew through a ruck of bodies and Rovers stopper Neil Sullivan saw it late, before diving to the right to block the ball.
It wasn't until the 29th minute that Morris had to make a save, and it was a simple one as Coppinger's well-struck volley flew straight down his throat.
Orient continued to look threatening and they gained their reward a minute before the break when Doncaster couldn't get a Daniels corner clear.
Brian Saah kept the ball alive and knocked the ball back for Jason Demetriou to cross to the far post, where Gray was waiting to climb above Gareth Roberts and nod home.
Orient kept the tempo up at the start of the second period and Barcham had a shot deflected behind four minutes after the restart.
But, with an hour on the clock, Doncaster struck back to equalise.
Referee Mike Thorpe gave a dubious free kick against Jabo Ibehre on the half line, allowing the visitors to take possession and launch a ball into the box. McCammon had dropped off to the far post, and he took the ball down before clinically driving low into the far corner.
Four minutes later, Mills smashed a first time effort against the post after Brian Stock's corner picked him out.
Morris then made himself the hero, producing stunning close ranges saves from Wellens and McCammon in the follow-up.
Both sides were going for it now and Doncaster's Paul Green lashed over the crossbar 15 minutes from time.
Shortly afterwards, Ibehre shot across the face of goal with sub Adam Boyd unmarked in the centre, while Boyd himself flashed a shot wide of the near post.
Youngster Loick Pires was given his debut from the bench late on, but neither side could find a winner.
Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Saah, Oji, Daniels; Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Gray (Pires 83), Ibehre, Barcham (Boyd 77)
Subs: Melligan, Thornton, Palmer
Goal: Gray 44
Doncaster: Sullivan; O'Connor, Mills, S Roberts (McDaid 61), G Roberts; Coppinger, Green, Stock, Wellens (Hayter 75), McCammon; Taylor (Price 75)
Subs: Guy, Heffernan
Goal: McCammon 60
Booked: G Roberts
Referee: Mike Thorpe (Suffolk)
Attendance: 4,582 (995 away)
