CHARLIE MacDonald’s double put Leyton Orient on course to condemn Cherries to a fourth successive League One defeat today.
MacDonald netted either side of half-time as the hosts capitalised on some slack defending to establish a 2-0 lead at Brisbane Road.
And although Cherries substitute Brett Pitman halved the arrears with the goal of the game, Kevin Lisbie came off the bench to complete the scoring 11 minutes from time.
Dean Cox flicked the first chance past the post following a first-time cross from Lloyd James before David Mooney dragged his shot wide of the target.
With chances at a premium during the early stages, Steve Cook headed tamely into the hands of Orient goalkeeper Jamie Jones following a Matt Ritchie free-kick.
MacDonald profited from some ponderous defending to open the scoring midway through the first half, the striker converting Mooney’s cross.
However, Cherries contributed to their own downfall with Dan Seaborne and Shwan Jalal failing to deal with a routine through ball over the top.
With Cherries still rocking, Orient defender Scott Cuthbert burst into the 18-yard box before firing just wide of the upright.
Seaborne was convinced he had levelled when he met with a thumping header a cross from Simon Francis. But after the ball had hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, the assistant deemed it had not crossed the line.
Roman Vincelot rifled a right-foot effort over the crossbar after James’s knockdown had picked him out 12 yards from goal.
Lewis Grabban spurned a great opportunity to level on the stroke of half-time, the striker blazing high over the crossbar after Josh McQuoid had foxed the Orient defence by stepping over Ritchie’s corner.
MacDonald doubled Orient’s lead just three minutes into the second half when Cherries made a dog’s dinner of dealing with another through ball, Eunan O’Kane inadvertently rolling it into the path of the striker who tucked his effort past Jalal.
Substitute Pitman almost made an immediate impression, the striker’s header from O’Kane’s hanging cross acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Jones on the hour.
Pitman finally found a way past Jones when his finely-taken volley from another O’Kane centre halved the deficit after 66 minutes.
But Orient substitute Lisbie came off the bench to restore the hosts’ two-goal lead, poking home his effort following good work by winger Moses Odubajo.
Cherries: Jalal, Francis, Cook, Seaborne, Ritchie, Fogden (Pitman, 55), O’Kane, Hughes, McQuoid, Pugh (Fraser, 85), Grabban (Tubbs, 74).
Unused subs: Partington, S MacDonald, Fletcher, Allsop (g/k).
Orient: Jones, Cuthbert, Baudry, Clarke, McSweeney, Odubajo, Vincelot, James (Smith, 78), Cox, C MacDonald (Obafemi, 89), Mooney (Lisbie, 70).
Unused subs: Griffith, Rowlands, Omozusi, Grainger, (g/k).
Booked: Vincelot, C MacDonald.
Attendance: 5,136 (including 1,407 visiting supporters).
Referee: James Linington (Newport, Isle of Wight).
