National League: Woking 0 Leyton Orient 2

A brace from Macauley Bonne helped Leyton Orient get back to winning ways in the National League with a 2-0 success away to Woking.

The O’s came into the contest at Kingfield Stadium still reeling from their 6-1 thumping at Bromley on Tuesday night.

But Steve Davis saw his team show some mettle by scoring twice in the second half to claim a third win from their opening five matches.

Orient made two changes from the side which started at Bromley, as Jobi McAnuff and James Dayton returned to the starting XI.

Josh Koroma and Rommy Boco dropped to the bench with Jamie Sendles-White named in the match day squad for the first time and Michael Clark missing out.

The opening exchanges between Orient and the Cards were cagey with both teams keen not to give anything away.

It took up the 19th minute for the first real significant action to occur, as Bonne fired over after good play from Dayton.

Orient took confidence from the move and it was the start of a sustained period of pressure with David Mooney volleying wide seconds later.

A Dayton free kick caused some problems in the Woking area minutes after, yet it remained goalless midway through the half.

The hosts began to get back into the match though, with Joe Ward heading wide before George Elokobi bravely blocked an effort by Richard Orlu.

Jamie Philpot then tried his luck just after the half an hour mark, yet his shot curled past the post.

O’s did manage to finish the first 45 strongly and Dayton fired a free kick just wide before Mooney was booked for simulation inside the area.

After Tuesday’s disappointing result, Orient would have been pleased to come in at half time level and without conceding.

Davis would have been hoping for better from his team at the other end of the pitch, however, and thankfully his wishes soon came true.

Orient went at Woking straight after the restart, as Dayton tested Nathan Baxter and Alex Lawless saw an effort fly over the crossbar.

And then with 50 minutes on the clock, the O’s made the breakthrough with ex-Cards defender Jake Caprice involved.

The full-back got down the right-hand side and impressively crossed in for Bonne to slide home the opener at Kingfield Stadium.

It was a big goal for Orient and saw them lead away from home in the National League for the first time this season.

A delay in play occurred five minutes after the goal with Josh Coulson needing treatment for a head injury.

Davis then made his first change in the 69th minute, as Craig Clay came on for first-team captain Charlie Lee.

Orient continued to have control of the game and Dayton saw a free kick punched away by Baxter, as O’s searched for a crucial second goal.

The former Cheltenham Town winger was involved again with quarter of an hour remaining, but his low shot was blocked following McAnuff’s cross.

With eight minutes left, Orient wasted a great opportunity to double their advantage when Clay won the ball back brilliantly in the middle of the park.

The midfield found McAnuff and his effort deflected into Mooney’s path, but the experienced forward couldn’t beat Baxter.

It seemed like it may come back to haunt O’s despite the seconds ticking away, but four minutes later they doubled their lead.

Bonne embarked on an excellent run and after working a yard of space, he drilled into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

It sparked wild celebrations, as Orient knew they were on the verge of getting back to winning ways in the National League.

Davis made two more changes during four minutes of additional time with Koroma and Boco entering the fray in place of McAnuff and Dayton.

The full time whistle soon followed, however, to see O’s earn a third win of the campaign and move up to eighth as a result.

Orient have nine points from their opening five games and now have a whole week to prepare to face Eastleigh at Brisbane Road on Saturday.

Leyton Orient: Grainger; Caprice, Coulson, Elokobi, Widdowson; Dayton (Boco 90), Lee (Clay 69), Lawless, McAnuff (Koroma 90); Mooney, Bonne.

Unused substitutes: Sargeant, Sendles-White.

Attendance: 2,855 (1,078 Leyton Orient supporters).