Leyton Orient 2 - 0 Walsall
Coca-Cola League One

SEAN THORNTON'S second half brace ended Orient's seven-game wait for a win on Saturday.

The Irish midfielder struck twice in the space of ten minutes to see off the challenge of Walsall and take the O's over the 40-point mark.

Walsall offered little and Glenn Morris - making his first appearance in four months following a midweek injury to Jamie Jones - didn't have a single save to make.

Jonathan Téhoué was impressive in attack and was unfortunate to end the afternoon without a goal himself as the O's gave themselves a long overdue confidence boost.

There was a great chance for the O's on six minutes when Scott McGleish got in round the back to cross low for Téhoué who, with goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin virtually on top of him, could only knock the ball against the Saddlers stopper.

Two minutes later Téhoué was involved again, sending in a fierce drive from the left hand corner of the penalty area that Gilmartin saved down low to his right.

All of Orient's early chances were falling to the Frenchman, and he went close again on 26 following a rapid O's break. Morris collected Julian Gray's cross and bowled the ball out to Jason Demetriou. He fed Charlie Daniels down the left, whose cross picked out Téhoué in the middle. The striker's first touch brought the ball under control, but Gilmartin closed down the angles well and got enough on the shot to force it behind for a corner.

Daniels then drilled into the sidenetting after his corner wasn't effectively cleared by the Saddlers as Orient enjoyed the better of the opening half hour.

Another Daniels set play led to a chance right on the stroke of half time, but Aaron Doran couldn't force home at the far post.

Five minutes after the break McGleish got up in the middle to meet a high Tamika Mkandawire cross, but he couldn't direct the header on target.

Orient were looking the more likely goalscorers and the breakthrough arrived on 63 when Téhoué and McGleish combined to set Doran clear in the right channel. The on-loan Blackburn man's cross-shot was blocked by Gilmartin at the near post but the ball fell perfectly for Thornton to tuck into an unguarded net.

The O's went close to doubling their lead immediately, Téhoué bringing down Daniels' corner at the near post before shooting across goal, through a ruck of bodies and wide.

Demetriou's 72nd minute shot flashed across goal and wide of Gilmartin's far post, and a minute later Thornton struck again to make sure of the points.

Téhoué was again a central figure, bringing the ball down in the right channel and cutting inside. The O's striker slipped, but the ball broke for Thornton 12 yards out and he neatly sidestepped the last man before stroking home.

It almost got worse for the visitors six minute from the end when Jamie Vincent chested Ryan Jarvis' cross just wide of his own goal.

McGleish fired just wide from range in the final minute, but two goals was more than enough on a comfortable afternoon for the home side.

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches (Cave-Brown 54), Mkandawire, Chorley, Daniels; Doran, Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; McGleish, Téhoué (Jarvis 74)
Subs: Ashworth, Baker, Smith, Scowcroft, Giddens (GK)

Goals: Thornton 63, Thornton 73

Booked: Thornton

Walsall: Gilmartin; Westlake, McDonald, Vincent, Sansara; Jones (Till 77), O'Keefe (Bradley 82), Taundry, Gray; Deeney, Nicholls (Byfield 77)
Subs: Ince (GK), Hughes, Smith, Grigg

Referee: David Phillips

Attendance: 3,685 (178 away)