Crawley claimed a third successive win as they dispatched third-placed Leyton Orient 2-1 at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

On-loan Swansea winger Gwion Edwards capped a superb full debut by scoring his second goal in as many games.

Chris Dagnall levelled for Orient before half-time but Andy Drury headed home the winner 20 minutes from time in front of a crowd of 4,387.

After a tentative start it was Crawley who broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when Matt Tubbs fed the advancing Dannie Bulman who unselfishly played the ball across the area for Edwards to mark his full debut with a second goal in as many games.

Leyton Orient could have replied instantly as Dagnall pulled the ball back for top scorer David Mooney but he steered his shot wide of the far post.

Six minutes before the break Orient did draw level when Dagnall poked home from close range after Mathieu Baudry rose unchallenged to header a Lloyd James corner goalward.

Edwards was a real thorn in the side of Orient and he twice denied just past the hour-mark, first a terrific 25-yard strike which was met by an equally good save from Jamie Jones, then a header from the resultant corner which was cleared off the line by Moses Odubajo.

The warning signs were there for Orient and Crawley regained the lead 20 minutes from time when Mike Jones lifted over a cross from the right and an unmarked Drury headed beyond the reach of Jones.

Again the visitors had a chance to equaliser as Crawley failed to clear a Dean Cox free-kick but Mooney could not get enough purchase on his shot and Jones held comfortably.

Moments later at the other end Edwards burst into the penalty area with a fabulous run before feeding Simpson but his low shot was held.

In the third minute of stoppage time the excellent Kyle McFadzean made an excellent block to deny Mooney.

Crawley: P.Jones; M.Connolly, McFadzean, Walsh, Sadler; M.Jones, Bulman, Drury, Edwards; Simpson (sub Torres 85); Tubbs (sub Proctor 60). Subs not used: Essam, Fallon, Monakana, Dicker, Maddison.

Leyton Orient: Jones, Cuthbert, Baudry, Clarke, Omozusi; Odubajo, Vincelot (sub Ness 79), James (sub Lundstram 66), Cox; Mooney, Dagnall (sub Batt 66). Subs not used: Sawyer, Lasimant, Simpson, Larkins.