LONDON, CMC – Grenada defender Omar Beckles ensured Leyton Orient stayed clear at the top of England’s League Two with his third campaign goal in an entertaining 1-1 draw against Swindon Town on Saturday.
The 31-year-old, recently elected the new chair of England’s Professional Footballers’ Association, headed the hosts in front early at Brisbane Road before substitute Jacob Wakeling leveled for the visitors after the interval.
Orient, who are 11 points clear of second-placed Carlisle United, forced eight corners in the first half, and it was from the first that Beckles put them in front after 12 minutes from Kieran Sadlier’s delivery.
Meanwhile, Beckles’ Spice Boys team-mate Kairo Mitchell, a 25-year-old striker on loan at Eastleigh from promotion-chasing National League rivals Notts County, was sent off after the break. Still, the visitors held on to win 1-0 at Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park.
Mitchell was dismissed in the 51st minute for an off-the-ball incident involving teenager Harvey Bunker, who is on loan from League One bottom club Forest Green Rovers.
“I’ve got no grumbles with that [red card],” Eastleigh manager Lee Bradbury said afterward.
At Priory Lane Stadium in England’s southeast, 22-year-old Guyana defender Miguel Scarlett scored on the stroke of half-time as sixth-tier National League South side Eastbourne Borough drew 2-2 at home to Chelmsford City.
In the National League North, 28-year-old St Kitts and Nevis striker Jacob Hazel gave Darlington a sixth-minute lead at Alfreton Town, and the visitors took a 2-0 lead before being pegged back in a 2-2 draw at the Impact Arena – slipping to sixth in the table following a run of five games without a win.
At New York Stadium, 28-year-old Reggae Boy forward Jamal Lowe, on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth, fired home an 83rd-minute penalty. Still, his fourth campaign goal proved to be only a consolation as Queens Park Rangers went down 3-1 at fellow Championship strugglers Rotherham United – their fifth defeat in a row.
Elsewhere, 24-year-old Jamaica-born forward Ahkeem Rose slotted home a 24th-minute penalty as lowly Weymouth defeated second-placed Dartford 3-1 at Bob Lucas Stadium in the National League South.
At Victoria Road in Greater London, teenager Shaq Forde, whose father Fabian played twice for Barbados, gave National League side York City the lead at the Chigwell Construction Stadium but hosts Dagenham & Redbridge hit back to win 2-1.
And Jordan Greenidge, a 23-year-old forward whose older brother Reiss plays for Guyana and Maidstone United, gave Tonbridge Angels a 21st-minute lead at Longmead Stadium. Still, visitors Taunton Town struck back to win 3-2 in the National League South.
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