MacDonald Brace Helps O`s To Victory

Charlie MacDonald`s double grabbed Orient an impressive victory over promotion contenders Bournemouth. The former MK striker`s goals in both halves meant the O`s secured their first win in four league games as they look to wrap up safety from relegation in double quick time.

Both sides set their stalls out early doors as Orient and Bournemouth look to attack with confidence in an attempt to wipe away their winless streaks.

On 26 minutes it was the O`s who would take early control of the match. A quickly worked free kick from midway in the Orient half allowed Mathieu Baudry to find David Mooney with a sublime long ball which caught the Bournemouth defence flat footed and allowed Mooney to cross the ball from inside the box on the left hand side to play in MacDonald who fired into an empty goal.

With the lead the hosts grew in confidence, so much so that makeshift full back Scott Cuthbert went on a mazy run into the penalty area only to narrowly drag his attempt wide of the far post.

As the half drew to its conclusion the Cherries started to show why they are challenging towards the top of the league as they looked for an equaliser. And with 35 minutes on the clock they were denied thanks to the crossbar and a possible handball.

Marc Pugh delivered a perfect ball for defender Danny Seaborne who saw his header crash against the crossbar and seemingly touch Lloyd James`s midrift as he cleared the danger away. The visitors` appeals for a potential handball were turned down as their best chance of the first half came to nothing.

With the second half set up for a tight game, the O`s took the ascendancy as they scored their second within three minutes of the restart.

A hopeful long ball skimmed the head of centre half Seaborne who inadvertently set up Charlie MacDonald who took the ball directly into the penalty area and coolly slotted past Shwan Jalal.

Being two goals behind and looking set for their fourth straight defeat, Eddie Howe`s men needed a response. Substitute Brett Pitman almost delivered a quick answer to Howe`s cry when his header from eight yards out required Jamie Jones to be at his best to acrobatically tip the ball over the bar.

But it wouldn`t take Pitman long to get his side back into the contest. An excellent looping cross from Eunan O`Kane allowed a free Pitman to lash home a terrific volley across Jamie Jones into the right corner.

With 25 minutes to go Bournemouth had hope and they started to press Orient back into their own half as they looked for an equaliser.

The O`s needed to change the pattern of the game, up stepped Kevin Lisbie on his return from the bench. The ex-Charlton forward who has been badly missed in recent weeks was the man who eventually sealed the three points for the hosts.

Jimmy Smith found Moses Odubajo on the right, who manage to wriggle past several Bournemouth defenders to find Lisbie unmarked in the box 10 yards out who drove the ball home past Jalal. Bournemouth looked for a way back with 10 minutes left, but the hosts saw it out comfortably to seal the victory.

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