Leyton Orient 1 - 3 Northampton Town
Coca-Cola League One

THREE goals in the final 18 minutes saw Orient's five-match unbeaten run come to an end as they threw away a lead to lose 3-1 to Northampton Town on Saturday.

Their good form looked set to continue when Jason Crowe headed into his own net in the first half, but Northampton hit back late on to boost their bid to dodge the drop.

Adebayo Akinfenwa, Aleksandar Prijovic and Ikechi Anya all found the net as the O's tasted defeat for the first time in a month.

Northampton almost found a way through in the 12th minute when Luke Guttridge's slide-rule pass picked out Anya, who had drifted in from the right flank.  Charlie Daniels tracked his run well though, and put him under enough pressure to fire wide.

Six minutes later Crowe sent a long-range effort off target as Northampton started the stronger.

But it was the O's who struck first, with the visitors' Crowe heading Sean Thornton's dangerous inswinging free kick past his own goalkeeper in the 24th minute.

Northampton's response should have been immediate, Andy Holt planting a header wide on 26 when well-placed in front of goal.

Holt made another mess of a chance at the far post, scuffing his effort into Jamie Jones' arms

At the other end JJ Melligan curled weakly at Cobblers stopper Chris Dunn as the interval neared.

Orient forced the first real chance of the second period when Thornton's 53rd minute corner found Scott McGleish.  The O's striker headed towards goal, where JJ Melligan flicked the ball over the top.

A corner for the Cobblers should have resulted in an equaliser moments later, but Holt headed wide after Jones misjudged the flight of the ball.

The game was coming to life and Dunn had to tip Jiimmy Smith's stinging 25-yard effort over the top on 56.

Midway through the half, Northampton fashioned another chance to equalise, but Prijovic couldn't take advantage, flicking over the top after Akinfenwa knocked into his path.

With 18 minutes left to play the Cobblers finally found a way through when Guttridge's free kick found Akinfenwa for a simple headed finish.

Two minutes later it got better for the visitors when Guttridge laid the ball across for Prijovic, who got away from his man and rolled into the bottom corner.

Jordan Spence had a header cleared off the line by Danny Jackman, and Wayne Gray shot wide of the far post as Orient looked for an equaliser, but it was the Cobblers who wrapped it up at the end when Anya got through to finish.

Leyton Orient: Jones; Purches, Spence, Mkandawire, Daniels; Melligan (Boyd 84), Thornton, Smith, Morgan; McGleish, Church (W Gray 68)
Subs: Morris (GK), Thelwell, Terry

Goal: Crowe og 24

Northampton: Dunn; Rodgers, Doig, Hughes, Jackman; Anya, Guttridge, Osman, Crowe; Holt (Prijovic 68), Akinfenwa (Gilligan 82)
Subs: Watts, Dolman, Walker (GK)

Goals: Akinfenwa 72, Prijovic 74, Anya 90+3

Booked: Anya

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 4,665 (682 away)