LEYTON ORIENT 2 GATESHEAD 0 Plucky Heed cannot derail Orient Express

GATESHEAD ran National League leaders Leyton Orient all the way in the capital, but came home again with nothing to show for their efforts.

The 2-0 win for the hosts saw Orient retain their one-point lead at the top, while Gateshead stay seventh after a frustrating afternoon.

The Heed battled commendably at Brisbane Road but couldn’t find a way through the meanest defence in the division.

Orient’s victory-clinching goal didn’t arrive until deep into injury time, with Heed schemer Greg Olley then sent off for a second yellow.

“We certainly weren’t outplayed today,” said Gateshead manager Steve Watson. “In the first half we were the better side with the ball.

“To a point we looked dangerous, but the end product, certainly from wide areas, was nowhere near good enough.

“We got into some great areas, but the quality of the final pass or delivery just wasn’t good enough.

“Too many had an off day with the ball, but Orient are top for a reason and when a little bit of magic was needed they had it.

“They weren’t any better than us but when push comes to shove they took their chances and we didn’t.”

Watson named the same side that won at Barnet last weekend and they made a good start in East London.

Olley cut inside to fire past the post before Fraser Kerr had to head clear Josh Karoma’s curler at the other end.

Chances were limited in front of a crowd of 4,636 at Brisbane Road, that were in subdued mood with their side still to hit their straps.

Orient, however, almost took the lead from their first corner on 25 minutes.

James Dayton’s flag kick was deflected over his own bar by Heed defender Jon Mellish, Koroma then shooting just past the angle.

Gateshead captain Scott Barrow fired just wide from the edge of the box after a quick counter had alarm bells ring in the O’s defence.

Barrow then wasted a good chance after being set up by Molyneux as the Heed again threatened to take the lead.

Mellish survived appeals for handball in the box, and then Koroma struck the bar from distance just before the break as a tight opening 45 minutes ended goalless.

Neither keeper had been particularly tested, Barrow a threat down the left, and the Welshmen also got some joy after the restart.

Just as at Barnet last week Gateshead conceded a number of corners as the home side ramped up the pressure early in the half.

The opener came on the hour as the dangerous Koroma went past two Heed men in the box to fire into the top corner.

A Barrow back-pass almost saw the league’s joint top scorer Macaulay Bonne increase the Londoners’ lead, but he shot wide.

Heed sub Steve Rigg had a header saved from Barrow’s cross and then a cross from another sub, JJ O’Donnell, was volleyed inches wide by Tom White.

Aynsley Pears saved superbly from Bonne, tipping onto the post, and then Koroma with Kerr going close to rescuing a point in injury time.

Orient substitute James Alabi set up Bonne to shoot into an empty net to wrap up victory in stoppage time, Olley’s dismissal sealing a disappointing day.