Peterborough United 3 - 0 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League One

DISAPPOINTING Orient fell to a heavy 3-0 defeat at newly-promoted Peterborough United on Saturday.

Craig Mackail-Smith scored either side of the break, while former O's striker Aaron Mclean added insult to injury for his old employers with a fine 20-yard finish.

The O's limp display - especially in the second half - deserved exactly what it got and Posh goalkeeper Joe Lewis did not have to make a single save all afternoon.

Peterborough began well, with three chances falling to Mackail-Smith in the opening ten minutes.  Firstly, he failed to get a good connection on his shot after Mclean's fine ball played him in.

Then, Morris dived to his right to deny the former Dagenham man following an excellent lofted through ball from Dean Keates, and finally he fired over the top after running on to Sergio Torres' pass.

But Orient soon settled and began knocking the ball around well, putting Peterborough under pressure for the first time.

They found chances hard to come by though, and it was at the other end that the next opportunity arose, with Mackail-Smith nodding Russell Martin's free kick over the top on 27.

Five minutes later Mclean skipped past Brian Saah before shooting low at Morris as the home side looked to up the tempo again.

Peterborough had created the bulk of the chances and they landed a blow just before the break when Mackail-Smith was afforded a free run on goal by JJ Melligan's slip in midfield.

Tamika Mkandawire was faced with two attackers to deal with on his own and Mackail-Smith made the most of the situation, charging towards goal before placing his shot into the far corner.

It almost got worse for the O's at the start of the second period, but Charlie Lee nodded Keates' free kick over the top.

With 50 minutes on the clock though, Orient did fall further behind when Keates played the ball to Mclean, who turned, got the ball out of his feet and fired a terrific low shot into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Mclean should have made it three just after the hour, but he miskicked in front of goal after Mackail-Smith's clever turn in the box created the space for a low cross.

Still Orient found it tough to make any attacking headway and Peterborough had, by now, taken a vice-like grip on proceedings.

The third goal soon followed, Mackail-Smith bundling home from close range after George Boyd made his way down the left flank and crossed low for Torres, whose shot was deflected into the striker's path.

Peterborough's Boyd forced Morris into a decent tip over as Peterborough looked for more, while Mackail-Smith volleyed wide when he was picked out by sub Tom Williams.

Boyd drew another stop from Morris as the final whistle neared as Orient sunk without trace in a desperately disappointing second half.

Peterborough: Lewis; Martin, Morgan, Westwood, Blackett (Williams 81); Torres (Whelpdale 81), Keates, Lee (Hyde 78), Boyd; Mackail-Smith, Mclean
Subs: Rendell, Tyler (GK)

Goals: Mackail-Smith 44, 68, Mclean 50

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Mkandawire, Saah, Granville (Palmer 51); Melligan (Jarvis 64), Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; W Gray (Dawkins 71), Boyd
Subs: Thelwell, Terry

Booked: Purches

Referee: Mike Thorpe (Suffolk)

Attendance: 6,643 (898 away)