Orient turned in a rare indifferent display against struggler's Northampton at Brisbane Road on Saturday.

Never mind the proverbial six-pointer, this clash could so easily have been a nerve shredding relegation nine-point dog-fight. Instead Orient are safe and it is Northampton who stare into the abyss that is basement tier football.

Orient were on the back foot for the opening period of the first half, as they continued where they had left off at Swindon, last week.

The Cobblers started strongly with long spells of possession in the host's final third .

Dean Morgan out wide on the left, Melligan across the field, and the forward duo McGleish and Church were cut off as the O's defended in numbers.

But the flanks became a source of rich reward when Morgan was fouled by Jason Crowe on 22 minutes.

From the free kick, Sean Thornton whipped in a low cross towards the near post. Crowe, once valued at £1m by Portsmouth, flew in to divert the ball into the net with his head, under pressure from Scott McGleish.

Straight afterwards, Andy Holt's bullet header across Jones almost pulled the visitors level. He should have scored minutes later but fluffed his kick from a raking pass across the box, as Orient hung on to finish the first half on top.

Orient began strong in the second half. The back four looked composed. McGleish and Church were each denied early in the second.

McGleish and Church were each denied early in the second period as Orient out themselves on the front foot.

But Northampton are fighting for their lives right now and it was no surprise that they did not roll over and die.

Adebayo Akinfenwa levelled for the visitors on 70 minutes. The former O's target scored his 13th goal of the season when he rose unchallenged from a scrum at the near post to head Danny Jackman's free kick.

Two minutes later, substitute and Derby County loanee Alekander Prijovic fired the Cobblers ahead with shot from nowhere from 20 yards. Northampton clung on. Jordon Spence saw his header cleared off the line by Jackman on the post with five minutes to go.

Late sub Adam Boy entered the fray with five minutes to go. His touch was good but he looked off the pace after his long absence as the contest got more frantic and Orient looked for an equaliser.

But the Cobblers made sure of the win in the final minute through Ikechi Anya. Playing as the last man he escaped Spence to latch onto Prijovic's through ball and shoot past Jones to seal a 3-1 win.

Jones, Purches, Mkandawire, Melligan sub 83 Boyd), Thornton, Morgan, Daniels, Smith, Spence, McGleish, Church (sub 66m Gray) Subs: Morris, Thelwell, Gray, Terry, Boyd.

Attendance: 4665, of which 482 Northampton fans.