Orient battle to Crewe draw

Darius Henderson's equaliser secured Leyton Orient a 1-1 draw at Crewe and kept his side out of the bottom four.

Both sides were level on points going into the relegation tussle at Gresty Road and the point will be more welcome to the Londoners, who have a game in hand on Crewe. Lauri Dalla Valle put Crewe ahead in the 10th minute when he made the most of goalkeeper Alex Cisak's failure to hold Greg Leigh's shot-cum-cross and prodded in. Jobi McAnuff volleyed wildly past the post when offered a sight of goal. But Henderson made no mistake when he drew Orient level on the half-hour mark, latching on to Marvin Bartley's pinpoint cross and volleying in from close range. Crewe goalkeeper Paul Rachbuka kept out another effort from McAnuff as Orient got on top as the first half drew to a close. Fabio Liverani's side started the second half strongly. McAnuff's strike was charged down by the home defence and Ryan Hedges drove into Rachbuka's arms. Crewe boss Steve Davis brought on big striker Uche Ikpeazu with little effect as Orient took control with only Rachubka standing between them and victory. Chris Dagnall wasted a gilt-edged opening in the 70th-minute after he had been put in the clear by Hedges. The striker blasted the ball instead of taking his time with the one-on-one chance and Rachubka tipped the ball over. Ryan Colclough forced a save out of Cisak, but it was largely one-way traffic with Rachubka denying Hedges, while Henderson tripped in the box when he was poised to apply a finish.