A late goal by Ryan Jarvis relit Orient's promotion hopes, today.

Jarvis has been written out of the script so often this season at Brisbane Road, but he made a huge impact from off the bench when he connnected with Jason Crowe's cross, sending his header past keeper Joe Lewis into the corner.

Orient could not have left it any later to grab victory. Jarvis' winner came in the 96th minute, deep in time added on.

It rekindles fading play-off hopes by placing Orient just two points away from the League One play-off zone, having played one game more Bournemouth.

Jarvis and Crowe were late entrants to the game, coming on as the match entered its late stages. Their cruical contribution was decsive in an entertaining game in which neither side had looked likely to grab victory.

Boro's Gabriel Zakuani endured a nightmare return to east London, gifting the hosts their opening goal on 67 minutes.

The former O poked Stephen Dawson's low cross over keeper Lewis' head on 67 minutes. It was a delicious defence-splitting through-ball by Cox which set Dawson on his way. But it was a nightmare for Zakuani who was under no pressure at the time.

But Peterborough were always a threat, with dangerman Craig Mackail-Smith denied on several occasions by keeper Jamie Jones. The visitors deserved their equaliser when it came, on 75 minutes.

Jones saved superbly to deny Mackail-Smith when he leathered a shot from eight yards. But from the resulting corner, Boro were level, as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing used all of his height to home.

The games was goalless at the half-way stage, but there was plenty of entertainment Boro had the ball in the net on seven minutes but it was ruled out for a foul on Adam Barrett by Ryan Bennett who clambered over the defender in the six yard box.

Soon afterwards, Dean Cox was appealing in vain for a spot kick at the other end when he brought down by the combined efforts of Gabriel Zakuani and James Wesolowski.

Adam Barrett marked his 500th game in some style on 18 minutes by collecting a yellow card for a foul on George Boyd. The free-kick was parried by the wall and then stopper Jamie Jones got a tangle with Craig Mackail-Smith. Heart in mouths time for home fans, before referee Iain Williamson booked Peterborough's main man.

The contest was an even and entertaining encounter with control of the midfield crucial. Orient were strong with Matt Spring running the show with a series of neat touches, pushing the ball around as required. Boro in contrast often looked to their front line with long balls up from the back.