Hartlepool United vs Leyton Orient. Sky Bet League One.
Suit Direct Stadium, Hartlepool UnitedAttendance2,313.
Wednesday 16 March 2011 09:32, UK
Leyton Orient equalled a club-record 14 games without defeat as they enjoyed a controlled 1-0 victory at Hartlepool.
A single goal from Jimmy Smith proved enough for Russell Slade's side, who have not lost since New Year's Day. Pools started brightly and created three chances in the opening seven minutes, but the closest they came to scoring was when James Brown flighted an angled shot over. The O's should have had a penalty when Alex Revell was felled by goalkeeper Scott Flinders, but referee Jon Moss played on. Yet they did take the lead after 28 minutes. Dean Cox crossed from the right and Smith met the ball on the volley to send his finish across Flinders and into the far corner. Orient's controlled possession game saw them dictate the first half but Pools came back in the second. Leon McSweeney tested Jamie Jones from distance and the keeper made a flying save to deny Andy Monkhouse from close range. The winger headed onto the roof of the net and then against the bar and in the 89th minute while midfielder Matt Spring sliced a clearance onto his own crossbar, but the Os survived.