The 48-year-old conceded the O’s were made to pay for some missed opportunities and poor defending at Brisbane Road

Justin Edinburgh couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction when reflecting on Leyton Orient’s 3-2 defeat at home to National League high-flyers Aldershot Town this afternoon.

The O’s and second-placed Shots produced a really entertaining game of National League football at Brisbane Road.

Brilliant goals were scored, there were several fine passages of play, though some of the defending left a lot to be desired.

Edinburgh said: “The first goal comes from our throw where we haven’t protected the ball well enough and within two passes the ball is in the back of the net.

“We spoke about that, we knew they would be compact down the middle and take care of the football, so we understood that and I thought we were good with our defensive work in the middle thirds of the pitch.

“But we were perhaps not ruthless enough and ugly enough when the ball came into our area.”

Orient made a dream start at Brisbane Road with Macauley Bonne scoring after just 19 seconds following a fine Jobi McAnuff through ball.

Dan Holman, on his debut for O’s, nearly made it 2-0 with a low strike which Shots goalkeeper Lewis Ward magnificently saved while Bonne miscued a chance from only eight-yards out after a good cut back from Holman.

It left some regret for boss Edinburgh come the full time whistle, he added: “It was a disappointing end to what was a very good start.

“The opening goal wasn’t the only opportunity of the first half where the trap was set and we regained possession in a good area and found the ball down the side.

“The goalkeeper made a great save from Dan and another one, a cross from Jobi, didn’t quite fall for us and then you had the cut back for ‘Macca’ where he hasn’t got the right connection.

“I know if we had made it 2-0 I might be talking about a victory, but we weren’t clinical enough with the opportunities we got and we were hesitant defensively.”

An injury to James Dayton towards the end of the first half coincided with Aldershot equalising in the 44th minute.

The ex-Cheltenham Town winger has only just returned from a calf problem which saw him miss the FA Trophy clash at Bognor Regis Town.

But Edinburgh was unable to provide a detailed update on him when speaking afterwards, he said: “I haven’t had the chance to speak with the physio so I will have to find out about ‘Dayts’ although hopefully it is nothing too serious.”

Orient were already without Joe Widdowson due to suspension while Myles Judd picked up another groin problem during the week.

Edinburgh refused to use absentees as an excuse for a performance which he believed fell short of O’s high standards at the end of December.

He added: “Yes ‘Juddy’ unfortunately has had a reoccurrence of his groin, so he couldn’t play and Joe was suspended.

“We were light in numbers, but it wasn’t about personnel today. It was about the desire to keep the ball out of the net.”