Leyton Orient see off Morecambe with Jack Payne goal
A freakish goal from Jack Payne gave Leyton Orient a battling 1-0 victory at in-form Morecambe.
Payne struck on 29 minutes after defender Ryan Edwards cleared from the edge of his own area, only for the ball to hit the midfielder and end up flying past home goalkeeper Barry Roche to nestle in the back of the Morecambe net.
Morecambe started the game the livelier of the two sides, with Edwards and Alex Kenyon both heading Jamie Devitt corners wide and the latter just failing to hit the target when he met Tom Barkhuizen's right wing cross at the far post.
Orient looked sharp on the counter attack and almost added a second on 38 minutes when Bradley Pritchard broke down the right and sent in a swirling cross which curled over Roche and on to the top of the Shrimps' crossbar.
The second half started with Morecambe striker Paul Mullin played in on goal but his final effort was a poor one as he pulled the ball wide of the left-hand post.
Orient found their strike-range again, with Jay Simpson curling an effort inches wide from the edge of the area after a smart turn and the same player just failing to find the target from close range after stretching to put the final touch to Ollie Palmer's header across goal.
The home side ended the game on top, with Aaron Wildig and Tom Barkhuizen forcing fine saves from Alex Cisak, but the visitors held on for victory.
Source: PA
