Bristol Rovers 2 - 1 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League One

ORIENT saw a lead to to waste as their weakness at defending set plays reared its head again at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

The O's looked well set for a positive result when Jason Demetriou's 46th minute cross was turned past his own goalkeeper by Danny Coles.

But Coles himself led the home side's revival by heading Stuart Campbell's corner home 15 minutes later.

Campbell was again the provider as Craig Hinton completed the turnaround on 70 minutes to leave Orient still without a win in six.

Orient enjoyed the better of the opening stages without creating any chances and it wasn't until the 26th minute that either team went close, with Rickie Lambert glancing Campbell's corner wide.

The O's broke the monotony three minutes before the break when JJ Melligan came off the flank to run on to Adam Boyd's flick and shoot left-footed over the bar.

Either side breaking the deadlock before the break seemed a remote possibility at best, but Orient didn't have to wait long after half time to make their mark - with a helping hand from Rovers.

There were just 44 second half seconds on the clock when Demetriou curled over a threatening cross from the right that Coles, under pressure from Ryan Jarvis, sent past goalkeeper Steve Phillips.

Eight minutes later an incisive O's break ended with Boyd playing a through ball to Jarvis.  The O's striker cut inside his man, but saw his shot blocked by the covering Aaron Lescott.

Rovers looked to respond and Lambert shot weakly wide of the mark on 58 after receiving the ball from Chris Lines.

The O's were looking more threatening though, and Purches had a chance a minute later when he advanced into the area to collect a pass from Boyd, but his shot was blocked at the near post.

However, Orient's lead was only to last until the 61st minute when Coles atoned for his earlier error by getting above the O's defence to powerfully nod Campbell's corner home.

The O's frailties from set plays was exposed again nine minutes later when Campbell delivered a free kick from the right, Lambert won the header at the back post and Hinton found himself all alone to net from close range.

Jarvis came desperately close to drawing the O's level immediately but his 20 yard free kick cannonned off the crossbar with Phillips beaten.

Orient introduced Dean Morgan and SImon Dawkins from the bench as they searched for an equaliser and the former forced a save from Phillips with a low drive from the edge of the box 12 minutes from the end.

At the other end, another Campbell corner picked out Lambert, whose towering header was touched over the bar by Morris.

Luke Ashworth had a header deflected just past the post  and Phillips saved from Chambers in stoppage time but Rovers survived the pressure to leave Orient reflecting on a missed opportunity.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips; Pipe, Coles (Anthony 65), Hinton, Lescott; Lines, Campbell, Disley, Hughes (Kuffour 59), Duffy (Hunt 82), Lambert
Subs: Green (GK), Parrinello

Goals: Coles 61, Hinton 70

Booked: Pipe

Leyton Orient: Morris; Cave-Brown (Ashworth 88), Thelwell, Saah, Purches; Melligan (Morgan 76), Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Boyd, Jarvis (Dawkins 76)
Subs: Jones (GK), Palmer

Goal: Coles og 46

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)

Attendance: 6,425 (274 away)