Leyton Orient 2-0 Bristol Rovers: James and Simpson on target for Orient

First-half goals by Lloyd James and Jay Simpson maintained Leyton Orient's 100 per cent start to the season as they beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 to stay top of the League Two table after five games.

There was little to choose between the teams in the opening exchanges but the home side went ahead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute.

Defender James Clarke was adjudged to have pushed striker Paul McCallum and despite vehement Rovers protests, referee Darren Drysdale pointed to the spot. James stepped forward and comfortably netted after sending goalkeeper Aaron Chapman the wrong way.

With the O's enjoying the greater possession, Rovers seldom threatened an equaliser until the 43rd minute when Orient shot-stopper Alex Cisak missed his punch as he came to clear a Chris Lines free-kick but Mathieu Baudry stepped in quickly to block the goalbound shot by James Clarke.

The home side doubled their lead in first-half injury-time when Simpson received a delightful cross from Dean Cox, slipped his defender and sublimely placed his shot low into the right-hand corner of the net.

The visitors, with two substitutes introduced for the second half, played with more purpose after the break but Orient, who had been forced to replace captain and central defender Baudry at half-time because of injury, soon rediscovered their tempo .

Simpson, a constant threat to the visitors defence, had a shot parried while Cox and McCallum also went close. Rovers' misery was summed up when Lines blazed over from five yards shortly before the final whistle.