Leyton Orient 4 Shrewsbury Town 1

Last updated : 18 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Two goals from Lee Steele and a brace from Andy Scott fired Leyton Orient to the top of the League Two table with a 4-1 thrashing of Shrewsbury at Brisbane Road.

Steele scored the first and last goals against his former club to send the Shrews to the bottom of the table - and their first season back in the Football League looks set to be a difficult one.

It's the first time in more than a decade that Orient have topped the table and a deadly three-goal burst in a ten minute first half spell ensured them the victory.

The misery for the visitors started as early as the 11th minute as they lost the influential striker Richard Logan and things quickly went to bad to worse.

After 17th minutes Michael Simpson sent Matthew Lockwood scampering down the left and his excellent cross was headed home by Steele.

Two minutes later the home side stretched their advantage when Wayne Carlisle sent in a superb cross from the right and Scott swept the goal home from close range.

With Orient in full flight they added a third on 25 minutes when skipper Gary Alexander held the ball up before setting up Scott ,who swivelled within the area and sent a shot crashing into the top corner.

As Orient continued to dominate Stuart Wardly, making his first start, went within inches of adding a fourth just after the break.

There was no rest for Shrewsbury as Orient continued to pile on the pressure and Alexander wasted a glorious chance to add the fourth after a fine through ball from Justin Miller.

Shrewsbury slowly came back into the contest and, just after the hour mark, Darren Moss saw a shot skim the outside of a post before Orient's Simpson made an excellent goal line clearance to deny live wire Luke Rogers.

But Orient stretched their advantage five minutes from time when substitute Jabo Ibehre's excellent run set up Steele to score his second from close range.

Shrewsbury did grab a consolation goal in stoppage time when Rodgers crossed for David Fox to fire home.