Town 0 Leyton Orient 2
Town: Weale, Woods (Grandison, 76), Mkandawire (c), Winfield, Jacobson, Parry (Hall, 84), Taylor, Wroe (Bradshaw, 45), McAllister, Wildig, Eaves.
Unused Subs: Anyon, Jones, McQuade, Marsden
Leyton Orient: Jakupovic, Omozusi, Cuthbert, Baudry, Cox, James, Lisbie, Odubajo (Simpson, 84), Clarke (c), Bartley, Loza (Lasimant, 57).
Unused Subs: Sawyer, Larkins, Gorman, Simpson, Ness, Coulthrist
Goals: Odubajo, 28, Cuthbert, 85.
Referee: Mr S. Mathieson
Assistants: Mr D. Meeson & Mr N. Radford
Fourth Official: Mr M. Amphlett
Attendance: 4194 (144)
Shrewsbury Town were subjected to their fifth home defeat in a row after being outgunned by high-flying Leyton Orient 2-0 at Greenhous Meadow.
Despite a battling performance, a goal in each half for the O’s from Moses Odubajo and Scott Cutherbert did the damage as Town failed to register a goal for the fourth time in that five match sequence.
The game started with a lively tempo and Aaron Wildig twice had the opportunity to put Town ahead in the first ten minutes. His first effort came after a neat build-up, but his speculative 25-yard curler was saved with ease by Orient debutant Eldin Jakupovic.
Jon Taylor battled well on the left to create Wildig’s second opportunity. He fed Tom Eaves, who slipped in Wildig one-on-one, but the midfielder sliced his shot wide when he really should have scored.
Town looked a calm, collected side but, against the run of play, The O’s took the lead on 28 minutes. Dean Cox slipped through a clever through ball that the defence, or Chris Weale, should’ve dealt with, but Moses Odubajo capitalised on Town’s indecisiveness to nip in and round Weale before coolly slotting home.
Half-time: Town 0-1 Leyton Orient
The O’s came flying out of the blocks to start the second-half, but it was Town who almost levelled on the counter. Eaves battered his way through the centre to unnerve the defender and go through one-on-one, but his controlled strike slid agonisingly past the far post when he really should have scored.
Town continued to rally and Wildig once again went close on 66 minutes. It was the Taylor-Eaves combination again that created the opening for Wildig on the edge of the D, but the curling effort whistled just inches wide.
Despite Shrewsbury’s continued pressure, The O’s all but secured the victory four minutes from time. Dean Cox swung in a dangerous corner and the ball flew in off centre back Scott Cuthbert’s knee to make it 2-0.
Town threw substitute Jermaine Grandison up front for the closing stages in a desperate attempt to claim a lifeline, but it wasn’t to be as the O’s held firm.
Full-time: Town 0-2 Leyton Orient