Leyton Orient 0 Shrewsbury 2

Last updated : 22 February 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Two quickfire strikes midway through the second half eased Shrewsbury's relegation worries as defenders Darren Moss and Matthew Redmile emerged as the goal heroes.

The win brought a smile to the face of Shrewsbury boss Kevin Ratcliffe who said: "This couldn't have come at a better time for us. It was an important victory, but when all our players perform as well as they can we are as good as anyone in this division.

"We have played fewer home games than most sides and if we can win them we will soon be in a more healthy position," said Ratcliffe.

However Orient manager Paul Brush was not so happy and fumed: "There was not a lot of credit for anyone in that performance. The second half was no better than the first.

"The quality of our play was not good enough. There was no movement and our passing was poor. I'm bitterly, bitterly disappointed," he said.

The all important goals arrived in a four-minute spell. The first came on 65 minutes when Moss fired home in spectacular style from 25 yards to leave Orient goalkeeper Glenn Morris groping thin air.

Before Orient could compose themselves they fell further behind when giant defender Redmile smashed the ball home from close range after Dave Artell headed the ball back into the danger area.

It was a good day for Moss, who had scrambled the ball off the line after 13 minutes as Lee Thorpe went close for the home side and shortly afterwards John Martin fired wide of the mark.

But the first half was generally a grim affair and Shrewsbury hit man Luke Rodgers had the best two chances but fired wide on both occasions.

Orient's only other first half threat came when Martin was pushed over in the area by Jamie Tolley, but referee Scott Mathieson waved away their penalty appeals.