Three and easy for O’s hotshot Koroma
CRISIS club Leyton Orient gave their fans something to smile about as Chris Koroma grabbed a hat-trick in the 4-0 thrashing of fellow strugglers Newport.
The O’s – who have been served with a winding-up order over unpaid tax bills and will appear in court this month – raced into a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes as they stopped a three-match losing run.
Steven Alzate put the visitors ahead in the eighth minute before Koroma added his maiden O’s goal five minutes later.
Koroma made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the second half.
Notts County became Stevenage’s latest victims.
Matt Godden took his tally for the campaign to 20 goals as Boro made it seven wins from eight games with a 3-0 victory.
Elsewhere at the bottom, there were home wins for Hartlepool – 3-1 against promotion-chasing Exeter – and Accrington, who beat Barnet 1-0.
A late George Ray header stunned Portsmouth as Crewe won 1-0 at Fratton Park.
Pompey’s defeat saw them miss the chance to climb into the top three, as Carlisle suffered a third straight defeat, beaten 2-0 by Plymouth, thanks to a 21st-minute strike from Graham Carey and a penalty in first-half stoppage time from Jake Jervis (below).
Doncaster striker John Marquis saw his 25th-minute penalty saved by Glenn Morris in a 0-0 draw against Crawley. Luton are up to fourth after thrashing Yeovil 4-0 at Huish Park. Danny Hylton put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot and added his 22nd goal of the season before Glen Rea’s second-half header made it 3-0 and Pelly Ruddock added a late fourth.
Cheltenham survived playing 72 minutes with 10 men following Kyle Storer’s early red card to draw 0-0 with Mansfield.
In the seaside derby Blackpool beat Morecambe 3-1.
Wycombe came from a goal down to earn their first win in seven games with a 2-1 victory at Grimsby, while Cambridge and Colchester drew 1-1.