Orient 1 Stockport 0

ORIENT must wish the season lasted all summer because they would fancy a punt at promotion right now, after a third straight win on Saturday.

Orient beat Stockport County by the narrowest of margins but the result puts more space between themselves and the drop zone.

The Hatters are chasing a play off spot but they were profoundly ordinary at Edgeley Park against an O's side which would have taken a draw at the start, but by the end knew they might have had more than one.

Church scored his second goal of his spell at Orient on 53 minutes from a counter attack. His low pass across the box to McGleish came off a defender to fall at his feet. In front of the noisy Orient contingent , he rifled his shot past Owain Fon Williams in goal for 'Port.

Leyton Orient travelled to Edgeley Park to maintain their revival under Geraint Williams.

Host's Stockport awaited them unbeaten in four games and in the hunt for a League One play-off spot.

This was a game undermined by the pitch. Grass has lost the battle with mud at Edgeley Park so that the playing surface looks like a ploughed field. No mystery though: the Hatters share Edgeley Park with rugby league's Sale Sharks.

Credit to Orient, they did try to play good football throughout.

Charle Daniels almost scored his second in as many games with a shot over the bar on 15 minutes after spell of neat possession and passing at the edge of 'Port's area.

Church it was who secured maximum points for Orient, and while he had to wait until the 53rd minute for his goal, he was a dynamic presence up front alongside the dogged Scott McGleish.

The 20-year-old loanee from Reading could have fired Orient ahead on 18 minutes when one on one with the last defender, but he ran down a blind alley.

A blunt Stockport side was happy to keep possession at the back and by-pass their brownfield turf with long, high balls.

Tommy Rowe was the fulcrum of their forages forwards, and he kept Stephen Purches busy. But Jones kept his kit spotless as Stockport threatened only rarely and then from corners.

Jimmy Smith and Sean Thornton each sought to defy the conditions, putting their foot on the ball and producing deft touches and passes to unlock Stockport's solid defence.

Later, Thornton got stuck in at the back, halting the the dangerous half time substitute Oli Johnson and blasting his team-mates whom Johnson had left for dead.

The best chance of the first half left all watching open mouthed at how Orient failed to find net.

Mkandawire headed the ball across the goal mouth from a Daniels free kick to where Church and Spence were lurking two yards out. An open goal gaping, the pair seemed to put each other off so the header dribbled past the right post.

After a lethargic first half display, half time substitute Oli Johnson added cutting edge to Stockport's attack with his pace and willingness to run at the defence.

Church almost fired Orient ahead on 50 minutes after Matty McNiel fumbled to let in the 20-year-old one on one with Owain Fon Williams in the Port goal. The keeper saved the on-loan stiker's shot.

But Church made no mistake with a second bite of the cherry three minutes later.

Stockport rarely threatened. O'Grady went close in the 73 minute with a strike which fizzed past the far post from the edge of the area, which had Jones at full stretch grasping at thin air.

Raynes headed wide from close range on 81 minutes, which reminded Orient that the hosts did actually want to score.

Orient were left scratching their collective heads at the decision by referee Mr Moss to award them a free kick on the edge of the box after Demetriou had slotted the ball into the far corner.

Luckily, it did not affect the result and Orient take a significant step towards preserving their League One status.

Attendance 5,835