Leyton Orient 2 - Swindon Town 1 (From Swindon Advertiser)

Leyton Orient 2 - Swindon Town 1

8:34am Wednesday 12th March 2008 in

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AS Simon Cox wheeled away with his head in his hands after missing a late sitter last night, any slim chance of a surge into the play-offs probably disappeared with it.

But the absence of Maurice Malpas's men in the end-of-season finale will certainly not be because of one missed chance - it will be due to lack of concentration at key times as Town again failed to kill off their opponents.

Think back to games at Oldham, Forest, Northampton, Cheltenham - the list is endless and that lack of killer instinct was again all too evident at a blustery Matchroom Stadium last night.

When Anthony McNamee's cross was deflected into his own net by Alton Thelwell on 20 minutes, Town looked like they would steamroll a poor-looking Orient side and re-ignite fresh play-off dreams.

The recalled Peter Brezovan was merely a spectator for the first 45 minutes but by 55 minutes Town were suddenly 2-1 down and facing a mountain to climb.

Miguel Comminges was rightly penalised for a foul on Adam Boyd in the area for Boyd's opener from the penalty spot and when the former Hartlepool man rose to head the winner home unmarked on 54 minutes, Town were left asking how they had let the game slip from their grasp.

A dejected Town skipper Hasney Aljofree said: "It is hard to explain really. I think we have dominated for 80 minutes. The first half was hard for us because we were facing the wind and I thought we played some good stuff.

"We scored a goal but second half they came out of the traps. We knew it was going to happen, like it did at Oldham, but I think it was waves of attack at times. We gave the penalty away and they were on the front foot and have scored another goal shortly afterwards.

"As the home team they had the initiative and I don't think we coped too well at times. For 80 minutes though we did not have a problem, we attacked well, had good chances and I can't understand how we got nothing from the game."

Top scorer Cox would have been a quiet man on the journey home to Wiltshire last night after squandering Town's best chance to level with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The former Reading man somehow poked the ball over the bar from just yards out, after Sofiene Zaaboub had dispossessed the hesitant Orient defence, but Town will know they should never have got themselves in another desperate situation.

"Coxy had a great chance but to be fair he has tried hard all game and he will score more goals for us than not," said Aljofree. "I am gutted for him and he has taken it to heart but we have to defend, we can't let two goals in it is as simple as that.

"We could have won 4-2 but we never did. Everyone has had their say in the changing rooms. It is good to talk. We have come here and done well but then given a penalty away and given them the win.

"It is a hard one to take. We won't give up because of the boys we have got but the constant changes have not helped us."

Malpas was again forced into changes, with Blair Sturrock and Jon-Paul McGovern coming in for the suspended Lee Peacock and Billy Paynter, while Zaaboub had to be introduced early on as Chris Allen limped off with a knee ligament problem.

Aljofree said: "I am not making excuses but we have hardly named the same side once. We have to name a new midfield or a new defence. Everyone does try their hardest but if you look at the top teams they are generally the ones who play the most settled sides.

"I think the boys came in today and actually did really well. It is a hard one to take because 10 minutes of madness has cost us the game.

"The boys who have been out are big players for the club. They are tall lads as well and you need big tall players in this league. It is hard for the manager to pick a team when we have had so many injuries and suspensions every week."