Orient get back to winning ways at the seaside after Payne scores first for the club

Leyton Orient got back to winning ways at Morecambe after Jack Payne scored his first goal for the club to earn them a 1-0 win in League Two.

It came in fortuitous circumstances because Payne scored after blocking a clearance, but the O’s defended well throughout at Globe Arena.

Ian Hendon had Alex Cisak to thank for a couple of saves at the end, but they managed to stay strong and get a much-needed three points.

Orient named an unchanged starting team from the side that drew at Luton Town on Tuesday night, but there was a notable absentee on the bench.

Dean Cox wasn’t included and Freddy Moncur took his place among the replacements alongside fellow youth team graduate Scott Kashket.

Cox was at Globe Arena, though, and not nursing an injury just not selected by Hendon for the match.

The O’s got the game underway and the first chance of note went to the Seasiders, but Ryan Edwards headed a corner wide.

Although Morecambe were the leading scorers in the division and in Jay Simpson, Orient had the player with the most goals in the league – it was a dull affair.

They was little created in terms of chances until Payne picked out Ollie Palmer in the box, but his header was deflected wide.

In response the hosts attacked well down the right and Jamie Devitt headed a decent opportunity wide.

John Marquis picked up a booking in the 24th minute when his enthusiasm got the better of him and he caught Shaun Beeley late.

Five minutes later and Hendon’s side had their best shot on target and it would give them the lead, but in fortuitous circumstances.

Payne beat his marker and tried to pass to his team mate, but the ball got intercepted and Edwards attempted clearance was charged down by the Orient midfielder and flew past Barry Roche in the Morecambe goal and into the net.

It was his first goal for the club and a minute later and Payne tried his luck from range, but it was easily saved.

Kevin Ellison had an effort at the other end – Cisak comfortably gather, however, and it remained 1-0 to the away side.

The O’s pushed to extend their lead and broke smartly seven minutes before the interval after Palmer won the ball off the home defence.

He passed out to Bradley Pritchard and his cross looped over Roche, but hit the crossbar and bounced over.

Morecambe pressed to get back on level terms afterwards and two minutes of stoppage time was added on, but it was played out and Orient led at the break.

The Seasiders got the second period underway and should have equalised immediately as Paul Mullin cut inside Connor Essam. His effort went wide, however, and penalty appeals were waved away by referee David Webb.

Orient might have doubled their lead in the 49th minute, though, when Palmer won Pritchard’s centre, but Simpson, at full stretch, toe poked wide at the far post.

It was inches anyway from giving the east Londoners a two goal lead and Morecambe appeared to use that to their advantage.

They once again put the away goal under pressure, but couldn’t fashion a decent opener and it was Hendon’s men that had the next chance.

Pritchard fed Simpson, he rolled his marker well, but curled his shot wide from just outside the area.

Once again Morecambe hit back and a Devitt corner was won by Andy Goddall, his header went over and it remained 1-0 to the O’s with an hour played.

Hendon decided to bring Lloyd James on after that, replacing Marquis in an attempt to shore things up in midfield.

They had another opportunity to double their lead moments later when Clohessy’s cross found Palmer, his knock down was gratefully gathered by Roche with Simpson ready to pounce.

With 25 minutes left the game started to become scrappy with the home side desperate to find a goal and they started to adopt a long ball tactic.

Orient’s 398 away fans were in fine voice and roaring their team on as the seconds ticked away, desperate to see them win on the road for the first time since August.

Those supporters might have been celebrated a goal in the 75th minute had Palmer been aware of what was around him. But when James passed to him in the box, he was tackled and a potentially good opportunity was gone.

As the match entered the final 10 minutes, the O’s looked in control and had been defensively sound against a Morecambe team lacking a bit of imagination up front.

Aaron Wildig, a second half substitute for the hosts, tested Cisak for one of the first times in the game when he let fly from range.

The Australian pushed wide and despite some pressure following the corner, Orient were able to survive, but it was getting nervy at Globe Arena.

Wildig was starting to become influential and his cross was narrowly missed by Tom Barkhuizen before Blair Turgott was introduced for Simpson.

A minute later and Adam Chicksen committed a cynical foul on Shaun Beeley. He was booked for that, but the dangerous free kick was fortunately smashed over the bar by Lee Molyneux.

The pressure was mounting now and Cisak made a stunning low save from Barkhuizen before O’s captain Mathieu Baudry appeared to accidentally handle the ball, but Morecambe’s penalty appears were waved away.

Orient had survived the first of four minutes of stoppage time, but the home side had all the momentum now.

Hendon’s men held on, however, to earn a first win on the road since beating Newport County on August 22.

It was also the O’s first clean sheet since beating Bristol Rovers on the final weekend of August and the three points kept them sixth in the table, but a point behind Oxford United in third.

Morecambe: Roche, Beeley, McGowan, Kenyon (Kelleher 81), Edwards, Devitt, Barkhuizen, Ellison, Mullin (Molyneux 68), Goodall (Wildig 59), Parrish.

Unused substitutes: Thompson, Bondswell, Bailey.

Leyton Orient: Cisak, Clohessy, Baudry, Essam, Chicksen, Payne, Pritchard, Moore, Marquis (James 63), Simpson (Turgott 87), Palmer.

Unused substitutes: Grainger, Shaw, Dunne, Kashket, Moncur.

Attendance: 2,105 (398 Leyton Orient supporters).