Matt Harrold rescued a point for Leyton Orient in stoppage time as they battled back to draw 2-2 at home to FC Halifax Town.

Manny Duku and Devante Rodney had Halifax in what looked to be a commanding position going into the break, but Josh Koroma struck just prior to the half-time whistle and Harrold scrambled home late on after Halifax failed to clear a corner.

The O’s made just one change to the side that lost at Bromley on Tuesday, with Josh Koroma coming in up front and a a re-shuffle at the back accommodated for the loss of Marvin Ekpiteta, who was serving his one-match suspension for a red card in the week.

The hosts made a positive start and had the better chances in the early exchanges, firstly seeing Koroma’s effort deflected away and, from the resulting corner, Koroma again had a chance before Brophy’s ball in was caught by Sam Johnson.

Craig Clay then whistled an effort just wide of the near post but, three minutes later, Halifax took the lead when Josh Kosylo got free down the left hand side to cross towards Duku – his first effort hit the post, his second was blocked by Coulson, his third blocked by Clay before nodding in at the fourth attempt.

The pressure was still one-way, with the O’s looking the far more dangerous side, particularly through the lively Koroma.

He got on the end of a long Dean Brill kick before being hacked down by Joe Skarz and winning a free-kick, and it seemed as though he was in a personal duel with Halifax keeper Johnson, with the stopper coming out on top so far.

Macauley Bonne was the next to try his luck and he saw his attempt thwarted by a combination of Johnson and the post before Coulson, who is in fine goalscoring form, swiped James Brophy’s delivery from a corner over the bar.

Orient were made to rue their missed chances on the stroke of half-time when Rodney collected the ball on the edge of the area, turned Widdowson inside-out and then let rip with a left-footed effort that flew into the top corner past Brill to double Halifax’s lead.

That advantage lasted less than a minute though as, on their next attack, Koroma cut inside from the left and curled right into the near top corner to immediately halve the deficit.

The O’s continued to have the better of the play in the second half but failed to really trouble Johnson.

Brophy had a good opportunity when he met a cross from the left on the volley which was blocked before his follow up was saved, and Jay Simpson fired over after Halifax failed to adequately deal with a corner.

Dan Happe had perhaps the best chance though when Brophy’s delicate cross was flicked to him at the far post but Simpson, but he couldn’t react in time and only diverted the ball over the bar.

Orient continued to turn the screw in the final ten minutes and Bonne had the perfect chance to level, but he completely missed Simpson’s cross before Brophy’s rasping drive from the clearance was well blocked.

However, in the dying minutes of the game, Halifax failed to properly clear a corner and as the ball made its way through the box from James Dayton’s effort, Harrold was on hand to steer the ball in.

The O’s will have the chance to further build on their point on Tuesday night when they welcome Eastleigh to E10, with kick-off at 7.45pm.

Orient team: Brill; Lawless, Coulson, Happe, Widdowson; Koroma, Lee, Clay, Brophy; Simpson, Bonne

Attendance: 5,458 (184 away)