O’S PROVE A BIG PULL FOR FANS

LEYTON ORIENT’S attempt to return to the Football League continues to attract punters to Brisbane Road.

The O’s had a crowd of 5,043 watch them go top of the National League – more than at all but two League Two fixtures this weekend – as they brushed aside Havant & Waterlooville 4-0.

Orient were three up at the break with goals from Josh Coulson, a Theo Lewis own goal and Charlie Lee, before Macauley Bonne bagged a fourth.

And O’s boss Justin Edinburgh (above) said: “The crowd was incredible, over 5,000 is a marvellous achievement.

“We put on a good show for them and I’m pleased with the performance, but we still have lots of tough games to come.”

Orient took advantage of slip ups for both Salford and Wrexham, held to 1-1 draws at home to Ebbsfleet and away at Chesterfield, respectively.

Large support appears to be catching with 5,662 watching the Welsh side at Chesterfield where Jonathan Smith denied Wrexham after Brad Walker had given them the lead from the spot.

On-loan Crewe midfielder Walker said: “Over 1,500 fans were here today and they believe in us.

“We believe in ourselves, too, so there is no reason why we can’t keep moving on and plugging away.

“The fans were unbelievable today. I didn’t expect to walk out and see so many. The noise they made was incredible and they are brilliant. I couldn’t even hear their fans today, it was all Wrexham.”

The top of the National League certainly appears to be tight as four points separate the top seven sides – with Solihull, Harrogate, Fylde and Gateshead also in the mix.

Fylde claimed the result of the day with a 6-0 away win at Maidenhead, as Danny Rowe netted twice for the Coasters.