Port Vale 2
Leyton Orient 1
(League One)

A POOR second half display seemingly ended Orient's faint play-off hopes, as relegation threatened Port Vale came from behind to grab the points.

Adam Boyd grabbed his 16th goal of the season from the penalty spot on 26 minutes, but a woeful final 15 minutes by the O's allowed the hosts to snatch victory following goals from Marc Richards and David Howland.

The visitors started brightly but Jason Demetriou couldn't make the most of an early pass from Adam Chambers, while Boyd headed just wide.

Andy Barcham and Jabo Ibehre then combined down the right, before the latter was hauled down in the box by left back Adam Eckersley.

Boyd stepped up to slam the resulting penalty past Joe Anyon.

Tamika Mkandawire on his return from a henia operation almost doubled the lead shortly after, but Eckersely was on hand to prevent his shot from hitting the back of the net, following a scamble at a Demetriou corner.

At the other end Alton Thelwell also produced a good block four minutes before stoppage time to keep Marc Richards goalbound effort.

Orient also started the second half brightly, although Barcham was unable to convert Demetriou's cross with his head on 48 minutes.

Vale went on the attack on 55 minutes, but keeper Glenn Morris was on hand to first block Danny Whitaker's shot, before saving well from Simon Richman's follow up effort.

Morris was again called into action, when touched Richman's cross over his bar.

But he was unable to prevent the hosts from levelling the scores on 75 minutes, when Eckersley's cross from the left was crashed home at the back post by Richards .

Port Vale begun to press for a winner, but Richards shot cleared the bar and Morris saved Danny Whitaker's shot.

Martin Ling's men responded well and looked to have snatched the points, although Mkandawire's spectacular overhead kick came back off a post hit the outside of the post.

But with events seemingly heading for a stalemate the home side snatched victory in the third minute of stoppage time, after Morris could only parry Whitaker's shot and Howland was on hand to smash home from close range.

Orient: Morris; Purches, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Daniels; Barcham (Thornton 74), Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Ibehre (Gray 74), Boyd. Unused: Nelson (GK), Palmer, Fortune.