Leyton Orient 1 Cheltenham Town 2

Last updated : 13 December 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Cheltenham Town grabbed their first away win of the season thanks to a dramatic late strike from Ian Westlake.

The visitors had taken an early lead through Barry Hayles but Leyton Orient hit back with a penalty from Adam Boyd.

Town's hopes looked to have disappeared when Ashley Vincent sent off on 70 minutes, but then Westlake popped up with his against the odds winner.

On a rain sodden surface Orient's top-scorer Boyd headed over Dean Morgan's corner in the third minute before Town grabbed a shock lead 60 seconds later.

Home defender Tamika Mkandawire slipped and allowed Hayles to win possession and the veteran striker fired in a shot from 25 yards to the right of keeper Glenn Morris, who could only push the ball into the corner of the net.

Assistant referee Grant Smith limped out of the action shortly afterwards to be replaced by the fourth official.

Orient slowly started to gain a foothold in the match and Danny Granville should have levelled but headed over from close range.

Orient's pressure was rewarded on 33 minutes when Drissa Diallo tripped Morgan in the area and Boyd netted his seventh goal of the season when he fired the spot-kick to the right of keeper Scott Brown.

After the interval Boyd went close with a speculative effort from distance with keeper Brown stranded and the O's looked as if they might take the points when Vincent saw red for picking up a second yellow card on 70 minutes.

But the visitors landed a sucker punch when Hayles set-up Westlake who cut in from the left and fired an excellent effort across Morris and into the far corner.

Orient hit back in the closing stages and both Adam Chambers and Boyd sent headers against the bar, but Cheltenham held on for that elusive away win.