Oldham Athletic 2 - 0 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League One

ORIENT'S winless run was extended to a seventh game when Oldham Athletic eased past them at Boundary Park on Tuesday night.

Deane Smalley's 20th minute opener gave the home side the advantage and they killed off the O's challenge right at the start of the second period through Dale Stephens' second.

Orient lacked a cutting edge in attack and rarely threatened away keeper Dean Brill on another night to forget for the east Londoners.

After an even start to the game, Orient went close from a 19th minute corner when Jonathan Téhoué headed wide from Jason Demetriou's right wing corner.

A minute later the Latics were in the lead when Smalley cut in from the right, exchanged passes with Pawel Abbott as he made his way into the area and coolly finished under an exposed Jamie Jones.

The home side had another chance within 60 seconds as Daniel Nardiello burst clear and drew a decent low stop from Jones with his drive across goal.

Oldham were looking dangerous on the break and they moved the ball downfield swiftly on 28 minutes after an O's move broke down. Smalley carried the ball forward and laid the ball back to Stephens, who clipped over a back post cross for Abbott to shoot at Jones from a tight angle.

Jones was then called on to make an excellent save from Abbott, getting down low to his right to touch the home striker's fierce effort behind after he got past Luke Ashworth 20 yards from goal.

Chris Taylor, lively throughout the opening period on the left flank, also went close before the break, shooting just wide of the near post after coming inside from the touchline.

And Taylor was involved again as Oldham doubled their lead just four minutes after half time, holding the ball on the right as Stephens made an untracked run from the midfield.

The wingman's through ball was weighted perfectly for Stephens, who finished first time across Jones and into the opposite corner.

Orient struggled to make headway going forward and Oldham were comfortable in their lead as the game entered its final 20 minutes.

15 minutes from the end Jones plunged down on a Smalley effort after Oldham worked a free kick well into the box.

But the O's never looked like getting back into the contest and they could have few complaints over the final scoreline.

Oldham: Brill; Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson; Smalley, Stephens, Whitaker, Taylor (Worthington 88); Nardiello (Colbeck 58), Abbott (Eaves 87)
Subs: Aljofree, Black, Flahavan (GK)

Goals: Smalley 20, Stephens 49

Booked: Gregan

Leyton Orient: Jones; Purches, Mkandawire, Ashworth, Daniels; Doran (Baker 61), Chambers, Smith, Demetriou (McGleish 79); Téhoué (Jarvis 74), Scowcroft
Subs: Morris (GK), Thornton, Cave-Brown, Mike

Booked: Chambers, Daniels

Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Attendance: 3,126 (112 away)