Macclesfield manager David Moss saluted his two-goal hero Matthew Tipton after a vital home win helped the Cheshire side climb clear of the Nationwide League drop zone.
Beaming with delight, Moss said: "I left Tipton out because he had not been performing but he's come back refreshed and on that form looks as sharp as any striker in this division." He added: "It's unfair to pick out any player because from the goalkeeper to the front two we were excellent tonight and played with passion." Orient Manager Paul Brush admitted that his team had been second best throughout: "We made some bad mistakes for their goals, some poor decision making and had no strength in our challenges.
"I'm disappointed that we came to a side that is playing for its life and got out-played and out-fought." Macclesfield opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Tipton neatly controlled a long ball from Michael Welsh before seeing his low shot blocked on the six-yard line.
The ball fell to Danny Whitaker on the edge of the box who crashed home his 12th goal of the campaign with an accurate low volley.
However, joy turned to despair for the Silkmen just four minutes later when skipper Darren Tinson almost fell over himself allowing Lee Thorpe to march unmarked on goal.
With only the keeper to beat he cleverly clipped home his eighth of the season to prove his class.
Macclesfield took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break and it was a moment of class from veteran striker Kyle Lightbourne that created the second.
His fierce shot on the turn cannoned off the crossbar allowing Tipton to bury from close range.
Tipton scored his second goal of the game in the 67th minute when he was first to react after O's keeper Glen Morris could only spill a Danny Adams header at his feet.
It was Tipton's 11th of the season and his third in two games, sending Macclesfield three places up the League.