Barnet 2
Leyton Orient 3
(League Two)
JABO IBEHRE scored on his return from a nine-month injury lay-off to help Orient to a 3-2 victory over Barnet in a pulsating London derby, writes Leo Tyrie.
The 22-year-old striker popped up with an equaliser goal just before the interval to cancel out Giuliano Grazioli's first minute opener and set the visitors up for a second half assault.
And with both Ibehre and strike partner Gary Alexander proving a handful, Orient finally got their reward when the latter notched a brace in the final 15 minutes.
There was still time for Grazioli to register his second of the afternoon but his efforts counted for nothing as the Eastenders left north London as deserved victors.
A delighted O's boss Martin Ling said: "It was an exciting game and we showed some character.
"Everyone was waiting to jump on us, but we scrapped away and got ourselves level. We had two solid banks of four and hurt them with our front two and we thoroughly deserved the result after our second half performance."
Orient had to dig deep after Barnet cut them open from the kick-off with a swift move down the right. Dean Sinclair crossed low for Grazioli to tap home at the far post and only 14 seconds had been played.
But Ling's men responded well and were level five minutes before half-time when Ibehre reacted first to reach a loose ball and slam home from eight yards. Playing down the notorious Underhill slope in the second half, Orient were always on top and they edged in front on 75 when Ibehre turned Anthony Charles on the half-way line and released Alexander with an incisive through-ball.
The Orient front-man kept his cool to slot past home stopper Ross Flitney and in the 89th minute he showed similar composure to take advantage of another one-on-one opportunity.
Grazioli bundled home his second in injury time but Orient merited their third away win from four starts this season.
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