The Silkmen boss felt the O’s benefited from not playing twice last week and conceded he was happy with a point

Macclesfield Town manager John Askey admitted Leyton Orient looked fresher than his team during Saturday’s 1-1 draw in the National League at Moss Rose.

The Silkmen took the lead in the 16th minute when Danny Whitaker latched onto a loose ball and poked past O’s Dean Brill from outside the area.

Orient managed to regroup though, and levelled three minutes before half time when Josh Koroma controlled and fired home impressively after a corner.

The National League clash, which was shown live by BT Sport, finished 1-1 and so the Silkmen have to wait a little longer to be crowned league title winners.

“I thought we started quite bright and created one or two chances, but we didn’t take our chances early on,” Askey told BT Sport.

“The longer the game went on the more Leyton Orient got into the game and in the second half we looked tired.

“Leyton Orient didn’t have a midweek game and we did (at Boreham Wood), so I think that showed in the end.”

Askey had said in the lead up to the contest the O’s were in a false league position and he reiterated the point again.

Orient could have really spoiled the party late on as well when substitute David Mooney had a great chance to win the game.

He linked up well with team-mate Macauley Bonne and although Keith Lowe got his foot in the way to block the effort of O’s leading marksman, the ball rolled for Mooney and he fired towards goal from seven yards.

With Shwan Jalal out of his goal, it took an outstanding block from David Fitzpatrick to deny Orient a late winner as he deflected Mooney’s shot wide of the post.

Askey added: “The players have been terrific again and even up to the last minute. I thought we should have had a foul (Mooney on George Pilkington) and it wasn’t given, but that’s why we are where we are – people putting their body on the line.”

He continued: “Leyton Orient are in a false position with the players they have got and they should be higher than mid-table.

“They aren’t higher because of the start they had, but they are a difficult team to face and we are pleased with a point.”

O’s away draw actually saw them drop two places in the table to 14th, but the result was another step in the right direction.