Leyton Orient’s poor pre-season form continued after a 1-0 defeat at Luton Town this afternoon.
The O’s came into the match having lost their previous two games against non-league Ebbsfleet United and Dartford.
Their run of defeats was sealed by a goal from substitute Jon Shaw just minutes after he came on at half-time. His header was enough to sink Russell Slade’s side who only have one more friendly before the season gets underway.
Luton made a promising start to the match and Andre Gray went close early on when his effort flew just past the post.
The Hatters again threatened when Gray was released and his strike flew inches past Ryan Allsop’s goal.
The visitors looked second best during the first quarter of the match and were still waiting to construct their first meaningful attack.
Luton again looked the more dangerous side and the lively Gray created space for himself but his shot drifted well wide of the target.
The O’s finally created an opportunity when Anthony Griffith set up David Mooney but his strike was comfortably saved by Mark Tyler.
Dean Cox’s fizzing drive seven minutes before the break was too close to Tyler but at least the League One side were starting to offer some threats.
The last chance of the half fell to Luton with Yaser Kasim’s free-kick curling past Allsop’s upright.
Substitute Shaw came on at half-time and the striker made an instant impact, after 48 minutes, as his header cannoned into the net off the past.
The visitors should have equalised midway through the second half but Michael Symes headed Ryan Brunt’s cross wide of the post.
Slade’s side almost grabbed an equaliser in the last ten minutes but Brunt’s acrobatic overhead kick flew narrowly over the crossbar.
At the other end, Alex Lawless fired just wide as Luton looked to seal the pre-season victory.
Orient's final warm-up match is on Wednesday night at Maidstone United before travelling to Charlton next week in the Capital One Cup.
Luton Town: Tyler; Rowe-Turner, Taylor, Kovacs, Henry; O’Donnell, Rendell, Howells, Kasim; Fleetwood (Shaw, HT), Gray
Leyton Orient: Allsop; Sawyer, Cuthbert, (Chorley, 61) Clarke, James (McSweeney, 79); Cox (Laird, 87), Griffith (Kashi, HT), Smith (Ertl, HT), Odubajo; Symes, Mooney (Brunt, 61)
Attendance: 1,607
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