Scunthorpe hold out Orient's bid for top spot push forward

Leyton Orient 1 - Scunthorpe 1

A hard-fought draw at Brisbane Road between the top two sides in League Two lacked some of the expected soup-throwing intensity, but for sheer drama on the pitch there could be no complaints.

A hard-fought draw at Brisbane Road between the top two sides in League Two lacked some of the expected soup-throwing intensity, but for sheer drama on the pitch there could be no complaints.

Scunthorpe, top of the table, set out to defend yesterday against an Orient side keen to improve upon shaky home form and return to the top of the division. With Orient prepared to go on the offensive, a captivating cat-and-mouse encounter ensued after a cagey first half. Andy Scott put Orient ahead six minutes after the break with a superbly executed chip that left Paul Musselwhite floundering.

Scunthorpe, in a rare attack, equalised when Steve Torpey bundled home Matt Sparrow's cross, but having hit Orient with a sucker punch, they were down to 10 men soon after when the referee Paul Melin spotted what he thought was Nathan Stanton's off-the-ball kick at Scott.

"It was a game we should have won," Martin Ling, the Leyton Orient manager, said. "We asked them enough questions, especially in the second half ... It was the old adage of being at your most vulnerable when you've scored."

Goals: Scott (51) 1-0; Torpey (52) 1-1.

Leyton Orient (4-4-2): Harrison; Lockwood, Simpson, White, Carlisle (Newey, 62); Steele, Scott, Miller, Wardley (Barnard, 71); Zakuani, Ibehre. Substitutes not used: Morris (gk), Mackie, Duncan.

Scunthorpe: Musselwhite; Stanton, Crosby, Sparrow, Hayes (Jackson 57); Torpey (Rankine, 89), Baraclough, Ridley, Beagrie, Butler, Kell (Taylor, 67). Substitutes not used: Evans (gk), Sharp.

Referee: P Melin (Surrey).

Booked: Scunthorpe: Baraclough, Jackson.

Sent off: Scunthorpe: Stanton (54).

Man of the match: Scott.

Attendance: 4,359.