Tranmere Rovers 2 Leyton Orient 1 TWO first-half goals sent Orient spinning to defeat as their six-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt at Prenton Park today (Saturday), writes Trevor Davies. Tranmere, who started the game in the relegation zone, str

Tranmere Rovers 2 Leyton Orient 1

TWO first-half goals sent Orient spinning to defeat as their six-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt at Prenton Park today (Saturday), writes Trevor Davies.

Tranmere, who started the game in the relegation zone, struck twice through Ian Thomas-Moore and Marvin Sordell in the opening 35 minutes to leave the visitors chasing the game, and although Orient substitute Jonathan Tehoue pulled a goal back four minutes from time, it was too little, too late, as the visitors slipped to their first defeat in 2010.

With winger Nicky Adams returning to Leicester City following a highly successful loan spell and defender Matthew Briggs going back to Fulham, O's boss Geraint Williams named the same side that had drawn 1-1 with Leeds, except for Jimmy Smith replacing Adams.

While Luke Ashworth and Adrian Patulea were recalled to the bench, as was Loick Pires, who replaced Harry Baker.

But it was the home side who were quick out of the blocks as Sordell missed a good chance on 14 minutes and Gareth Edds went close with a header, before the home side broke the deadlock on 27 minutes.

Thomas-Moore cut in from the left and fired home from 25 yards and O's found themselves facing a two-goal deficit eight minutes later.

John Welsh picked up the ball on the half-way line and pressed forward before releasing Sordell who netted from the edge of the area.

Little was seen of Orient as an attacking force during the first half, but just before the break Ryan Jarvis tested home keeper Luke Daniels and then the O's striker fired wide following good work by Smith.

That was to pave the way for a much better second half performance, as manager Williams did not wait long to switch things around.

On 53 minutes Tehoue and James Scowcroft replaced Scott McGleish and Sean Thornton, with Jarvis moving out wide on the right.

Smith moved into the centre of midfield and quickly made an impact with a 25-yard drive that flew just wide after deflecting off a defender.

Scowcroft was then denied by the home keeper and Tehoue fired inches over.

Orient's better second half was rewarded on 86 minutes when Tehoue blasted a poor clearance into the corner of the net.

As Orient went in search of an equaliser to preserve their unbeaten run Jason Demetriou's fierce free-kick was touched over by the keeper.

But Tranmere held on to climb out of the relegation zone and make it an unhappy return to Prenton Park for Ben Chorley, despite the O's having more possession than the home side.

The defeat saw O's slip to 14th in League One, five points off the drop zone and they will be looking to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night when they travel to Gillingham.

Leyton Orient: Jones, Purches, Mkandawire, Chorley, Daniels, Smith, Chambers, Thornton (Scowcroft 53), Demetriou, Jarvis (Pires 78 mins), McGleish (Tehoue 53 mins). Subs: Morris, Ashworth, Cave-Brown, Patulea.

Referee: David Foster