WHAT a difference a fortnight makes. Two weeks ago, Leyton Orient had a brand new and un-tried manager, had just suffered the ignominy of being dumped out of the LDV Trophy by neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge and were staring nervously over their shoulders at the rapidly approaching bottom end of Nationwide Division Three.o

s=9Now, thanks to a superb 4-2 win over Rochdale, Orient find themselves looking comfortable in ninth place, with their eyes just as much on the play-off positions as the League's basement.o

But if it weren't for in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time instincts of Dave McGhee, the game could have been very different.

It took only 30 seconds for Rochdale's Clive Dale to skip past Billy Jones and fire a shot past Scott Barrett that would have been a certain goal if McGhee hadn't been on hand to clear the ball off the line.

After this early scare the game settled into a rather predictable pattern, with Orient having the bulk of the attacking pressure without creating too many clear-cut chances, while Rochdale looked for a goal on the break, a tactic that certainly kept the ever-impressive Dean Smith busy.

But just being content to hit the opposition on the break is always a risky business, and Orient punished their visitors on 33 minutes when a John Martin cross was headed home by teen-striker Jabo Ibehre.

Exuding a confidence seldom seen at Brisbane Road in recent months, the O's doubled their lead within five minutes. This time it was Matt Joseph who launched a pass from the right wing and Jeff Minton was on hand to push the ball home.

By now Orient were playing some superb passing football and Rochdale, who were second in the league at the time, seemed ill-at-ease against a team that was supposed to roll over at home this season.

Orient came out for the second half looking just as hungry for a goal, and Rochdale keeper Gilks was soon under pressure.

While he may have saved a shot from Jospeh, the stopper had no answer when the irrepressible Steve Watts latched on to a John Martin through-ball and fired into the bottom left hand corner to give the O's an unassailable lead.

Despite already seeing their team winning 3-0 and playing some great football, the surprises were not over for the O's faithful as just five minutes after Watts' goal, Scott Houghton crossed the ball in and Matt Joseph was on hand to score only his second-ever goal for Leyton Orient.

Perhaps understandably, Orient began to take their foot off the gas and the visitors were able to pull two goals back through second-half substitute Kevin Townson, to give the scoreline a slightly flattering look considering Orient dominated for three quarters of the game.