National League: Leyton Orient 4 Barrow 1

Three second-half goals helped Leyton Orient secure back-to-back home wins in the National League with a 4-1 victory over lowly Barrow.

It was 1-1 for long periods at Brisbane Road, but substitute Josh Koroma put the O’s ahead with 18 minutes left before they produced a late flourish in E10.

Macauley Bonne netted twice to move on to 23 goals for the term in all competitions and take Justin Edinburgh’s team up to 12th in the table.

Edinburgh made a single change from the team which won 3-1 at Guiseley on Good Friday as David Mooney replaced Dan Holman.

The Cheltenham Town loanee missed out with an ankle injury and so another loanee, Lamar Reynolds, returned to the bench.

Although the O’s had little to play for, the visitors’ Barrow certainly did with Ady Pennon’s team just above the bottom four on goal difference.

The Bluebirds got proceedings underway in east London after a minute’s applause took place for Ray Wilkins, who played three times for Orient at the end of his career.

A stoppage occurred after just two minutes though, when Jack Barthram needed some treatment after blocking a James Brophy effort.

Play quickly resumed and it didn’t take long for the away side to take the lead with just six minutes played.

Sam Ling did well to prevent Bedsente Gomis crossing into the area, but the Barrow midfielder played the ball back to Dan Jones and he produced a stunning outswinging delivery which Luke James flicked home at the near post.

It was a terrible goal for Orient to concede with Luke James not being tracked and Dean Brill’s positioning coming into question.

After an abject start, O’s forced some pressure with three corners in quick succession and in the 12th minute Josh Coulson volleyed over from close range after Jobi McAnuff’s cross hadn’t been cleared.

Two minutes later and another chance was created, but this one went to the Bluebirds and they should have doubled their lead.

Jones threw the ball in like an arrow and Kingsley James got his chest to centre at the back post, but diverted his effort wide with the goal free.

Pennock’s side threatened again with 17 on the clock when Calum MacDonald’s cross found Moussa Diarra and he sliced off target when under pressure from Coulson.

Good play from Ebou Adams got Orient back on the front foot, as he won the ball back and fired towards goal, but Steve Arnold saved his 30-yard strike with 19 gone.

O’s attacked again two minutes later when Mooney and Bonne combined well and the former played out to stand-in captain McAnuff.

McAnuff crossed in for Bonne, but the Orient top goalscorer lost his footing and missed the ball completely when he was in the six-yard box.

Edinburgh was given another problem midway through the first half when Coulson went down with an ankle injury and had to be replaced by Marvin Ekpiteta, who was making his home debut.

It didn’t halt Orient’s momentum though and in the 27th minute they had the ball in the net when McAnuff got in down the right and crossed in for Bonne to tap home.

Much to the frustration of the former Colchester United forward, it was ruled out for offside, but less than 60 seconds later and the O’s were level.

Kingsley James miscued his clearance and it went out for a corner, which saw Orient equalise at Brisbane Road.

McAnuff whipped it in and Bonne flicked it on which put off Jones and he inadvertently deflected past his own goalkeeper with 28 minutes played.

O’s were unable to build on the goal and it was Barrow who created the next chance when Adams fouled Kingsley James around 25-yards-out and went into the book of referee Gary Parsons.

MacDonald got his effort up and over the wall, but Brill tipped his shot over and it did look to be the last significant opportunity of the first 45.

McAnuff had other ideas, however, and tested Arnold with a free kick of his own before Mooney saw a header saved at the end of two minutes of stoppage time.

Orient got the second half underway at a subdued Brisbane Road though, the sun was starting to come out.

Another stoppage occurred early after the restart when Diarra and Jordan White clashed heads near the Orient penalty area.

After some delay, White had to be replaced and former Norwich City forward Grant Holt came on in his place.

It was almost 2-1 to the away side just before the hour mark when Kingsley James crossed into the area and Luke James turned and saw a shot blocked by a combination of Ekpiteta and Adams.

The ball was still loose in the Orient penalty area and Nathan Waterston looked to fire past Brill, but Ling managed to divert the effort behind for a corner.

After a slow start to the second period, the hosts improved and James Brophy almost produced a memorable goal when he cut inside and beat a couple of opponents, but instead of shooting when well placed, he tried to take on another man and was tackled.

McAnuff did force Arnold into a save with 22 minutes left, but his long range strike was easy for the Barrow captain.

Edinburgh made another change soon after with Mooney coming off and Koroma entering the pitch and lining up just behind Bonne.

It proved an inspired substitution as three minutes later and the teenager put Orient ahead with his fourth goal of the season and seventh overall for the club.

Ling’s long throw was flicked on by Elokobi and Koroma was on hand at the back post to bundle the ball home with 72 played.

Five minutes later and Barrow’s task was made even harder when Jones picked up his second booking of the game.

The long-throw specialist, who was cautioned for bringing down Brophy minutes earlier, received a red for fouling the same man in the 77th minute.

Orient nearly made the game safe with six minutes left, but Craig Clay fired wide from a good position before another opportunity was wasted on the stroke of full time.

Brill grabbed a cross from Kingsley James and threw out to Brophy who had O’s in a three against two situation, but the wide-man got his through ball completely wrong with Koroma waiting in space.

It wasn’t to matter in the end though, as just as five minutes of stoppage time was added on, Orient made it 3-1.

Brophy got played in again on the left and despite his first cross being blocked, he found Bonne with his second centre and he slotted home his 22nd goal of the season.

With the points wrapped up, O’s were now enjoying themselves and made it 4-1 in the third minute of stoppage time.

Left-back Widdowson overlapped well and crossed in for Bonne to grab another, this time from his head, to secure the victory.

Referee Parsons blew for full time soon after to ensure Orient had won back-to-back home games for the first time since August 12 and moved up to 12th as a result.

Edinburgh’s men are next in action away to leaders Macclesfield Town on Saturday with the game live on BT Sport.

Leyton Orient: Brill; Ling, Coulson (Ekpiteta 25), Elokobi, Widdowson; McAnuff, Adams, Clay (Reynolds 90), Brophy; Mooney (Koroma 69), Bonne.

Unused substitutes: Grainger, Judd.

Barrow: Arnold; Barthram, Cook, Diarra, MacDonald; K.James, Jones; White (Holt 57), Gomis (Walters 84), Waterston (Fitzpatrick 70); L.James.

Unused substitutes: Hall, Makoma.

Attendance: 3,979 (163 Barrow supporters).