Cameron McGeehan scored the only goal of the game as Northampton ended a run of three straight defeats by beating Leyton Orient 1-0 at Sixfields in Sky Bet League One.
Daniel Agyei missed an excellent early chance to give Orient the lead, failing to hit the target having rounded goalkeeper Lee Burge, before Omar Beckles blocked well from Tom Eaves at the other end.
Orient were in the ascendency for much of a scrappy first half and they twice went close before the break with Jack Currie’s cross-shot clipping the crossbar before Ben Fox blocked Agyei’s goalbound effort.
Northampton made a fast start to the second half and the decisive moment came within three minutes of the restart. Jack Baldwin flicked on Mitch Pinnock’s long throw and McGeehan arrived right on cue to stab home his fourth goal of the season.
McGeehan was nearly in for a second but he was hustled out of it by a combination of defender and goalkeeper before Hoskins also saw an effort blocked.
Orient applied late pressure but failed to create anything of note.
