Orient edge out Tranmere

Leyton Orient held off a second-half fightback from Tranmere to secure a 2-1 win at Prenton Park on Saturday.

The visitors went ahead in the 10th minute when skipper Stephen Dawson fired into the top-right corner after Rovers failed to clear the ball properly. Then in first-half stoppage time Orient doubled their lead when Scott McGleish found the back of the net. Scott Wootton pulled a goal back for Les Parry's side but Orient held on for three precious points. After Dawson had opened the scoring, disaster struck in first-half added time for Rovers when goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen spilled a shot by Paul M'Poku, presenting McGleish with an easy finish. Tranmere were back in contention in the 61st minute as Wootton turned an Aaron Cresswell free-kick past an unsighted Brown. Then Jason Brown produced a tremendous reaction save to deny Dale Jennings an equaliser. Showunmi was next to be thwarted by the alert keeper, who then saved brilliantly from a misplaced header by his own man Aaron Brown. Tranmere were again out of luck after 84 minutes when an Ian Goodison shot hit the bar.