Crawley Town 3 - 2 Leyton Orient : Crawley record first home victory of season with comeback win over Leyton Orient

Posted Sunday, October 11, 2015 by PA

Crawley stormed back from an early deficit to clinch a first home win of the season with a 3-2 victory over 10-man Leyton Orient.

Crawley boss Mark Yates called up goalkeeper Callum Preston for his league debut and the 19-year-old was beaten after only seven minutes.

A cross by Adam Chicksen was headed onto the post by Ollie Palmer and striker Jay Simpson scrambled the ball home for his eighth goal of the season.

Orient should have extended their lead when Bradley Pritchard headed over before Simpson wastefully put the ball wide after getting clean through.

Crawley scored their first goal at home for 532 minutes to level through Roarie Deacon on 26 minutes, the former Arsenal youngster firing in off the post from 15 yards.

Defender Mitch Hancox, on loan from Birmingham, then beat keeper Alex Cisak at his near post with a low shot from 25 yards as the hosts took the lead 11 minutes later.

Orient defender Alan Dunne received a straight red card for bringing down Rhys Murphy on the stroke of half time, and Crawley midfielder Simon Walton stepped up to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.

Home striker Matt Harrold had a header well saved by Cisak shortly after the break before Orient substitute John Marquis was narrowly off target at the other end.

Simpson struck again to give Orient hope 10 minutes from time with a shot from 15 yards following an assist by Marquis, but Crawley hung on after six minutes of added time.