Orient played out an insipid draw enlivened by late drama with Carlisle tonight, which did play-off hopes no good without dealing a fatal blow.

Dean Cox spurned Orient's best chance to grab all three points by skying his header over the bar from Paul Jose Mpoku's cross, with four minutes of normal time left.

It was almost more than the hosts deserved tonight, as Carlisle rattled the crossbar and were only denied goals by three great first half saves by stopper Jamie Jones. He was the home side's key man.

Orient looked jaded at the Matchroom Stadium, which Cox's miss summed up.

Substitute Jonathan Téhoué last-gasp flick in the penalty box melee was turned wide by James Berret. It was a great opportunity. The second of two match-winning chances spurned, when precision was in demand.

A flat display by Orient briefly threatened to ignite when Cox churned up the right flank turf and squared into the box, with eight minutes left. On-rushing Adam Chambers skyed his effort into the South Stand. Carlisle earned their point, this evening.

They had peppered the hosts' goal with long range efforts by James Berrett and Liam Noble. Orient were chasing the ball and the game for long stretches at a time, as exasperation mounted. Carlisle were on top and Orient struggled to wrest back control. They were tight at the break and in the comfort zone after the early stages of the game.

The visitors, without much to play for in League One, looked content to pass the ball and have a go when the opportunites presented themselves. Substitute Paddy Madden clattered the crossbar on 78 minutes when the ball fortuitiously at his feet six yards out.

It was a lucky escape for the O's, who could easily have been three down, but for poor finishing by Criag Curran and then Francois Zoko during the opening 45 minutes.

Craig Curran was denied by Jones on 30 minutes, with a shot from all of six yards. A diving Jones palmed it clear, but Curran should have buried it from Francois Zoko's pass. Orient's stopper was at it again on 39 minutes, stretching to deny Zoko from a header. Jones rode to the rescue on the stroke of half-time to bat away Zoko's close range punt.

Charlie Daniels' supplied what guile the hosts musteredm this evening. His venomous cross was hooked just past the far post by Lubomir Michalik, on 47 minutes.

But Orient were devoid of cutting edge, the game was crying out for the injection of fizz Paul Jose Mpoku could supply. He made his entrance at last on 59 minutes, replacing Kane.

A dedication to long-ball punts from the back did not help the hots' cause. Without Kane, Scott McGleish was a lone target man figure and it was frustrating to behold as he chased lost causes around Carlisle's third. Téhoué replaced him with 15 minutes as the home side workhorse.

One mis-pass by summed up Orient's malaise, on the hour. He was superb to dink through a challenge and surge into Carlisle's third, but his lay-off dribbled to Cumbrian feet as Mpoku and Cox failed to seize the chance.

A surge on Carlisle's solid backline threatened to spring a shock win, but a point was most Orient deserved from this display.

Jones (gk), Omozusi, Whing (Crowe 75), Cox, Dawson (capt), McGleish (Tehoue 75), Chambers, Daniels, Spring, Kane (Mpoku 59), Barrett.

Subs: Butcher (gk), Forbes, Jarvis, Crowe, Carroll, Attendance: 3,228 including 238 Carlisle fans.