Leyton Orient extend lead on travels at Crewe

Ed Turns scored his first goal for the club and Theo Archibald added a second for Richie Wellens’ side, who have now played three games more than nearest rivals Stevenage.

O’s confirmed Harry Smith had joined Barnet on loan for the rest of the season prior to kick-off at the Mornflake Stadium, where they wore black armbands in memory of record appearance holder Peter Allen, who passed away aged 76 having played 490 times for the club.

And after a fairly uneventful opening period, they saw Kieran Sadlier’s corner fall to Idris El Mizouni, who headed straight at Dave Richards in the home goal.

Archibald curled a shot wide of the far post moments later, with Charlie Kelman denied by a goalline clearance after poking a Tom James through ball past the onrushing Richards.

And O’s took the lead on 31 minutes from a corner, when Kelman’s header fell at the feet of Turns, who fired home from 12 yards.

Lawrence Vigouroux denied the hosts an equaliser during first-half stoppage time with a great save and O’s had a let-off within a minute of the restart when Elliott Nevitt hit the post with a powerful shot from outside the area.

Kelman headed just wide from Jayden Sweeney’s cross at the other end soon after, but Archibald doubled the lead just before the hour after a fine move as O’s kept possession well and the Scot arrived at the far post to fire home.

Aaron Drinan replaced Kelman midway through the half in the first change for O’s and was straight into the action to tee up Archibald, who fired just wide, before going close himself from Sadlier’s ball into the box.

George Moncur made way for Darren Pratley in the second change for O’s and James saw a free-kick blocked by Crewe’s defensive wall, before Turns made a telling block at the other end to thwart Dan Agyei.

And the impressive Sadlier was replaced by Ruel Sotiriou in the third and final change for the visitors six minutes from time, with James curling a shot just wide soon after.

O’s are back on the road on Saturday as they visit Walsall.

Leyton Orient: Vigouroux, James, Clay, Archibald, Moncur (Pratley 73), El Mizouni, Beckles, Kelman (Drinan 68), Sweeney, Sadlier (Sotiriou 84), Turns. Unused subs: Byrne, Ogie, Thompson, Lyden.

Attendance: 3,462 (including 351 Orient fans).