A first-half double condemned Leyton Orient to an 11th game without victory in the National League at Ebbsfleet United, and James Dayton's late consolation did little to rouse spirits in their 2-1 defeat.

The Fleet took the lead through Andy Drury after just seven minutes, with the former Ipswich midfielder slotting home from close range.

Danny Kedwell, another ex-Football League player with Gillingham, doubled the advantage with a header just before the break.

Dayton struck with two minutes to go with a fine effort to halve the deficit, but it was far too late to mount any meaningful comeback for the O's.

Steve Davis made five changes to the starting line-up despite a spirited performance at Gillingham in the FA Cup last weekend.

Dan Happe and Mark Ellis both returned in defence, while James Brophy, Alex Lawless and Matt Harrold also started.

Drury's opener was the first chance of the game but the O's responded well, and should have levelled when Harrold met Jake Caprice's cross with a heaer which rebounded away off the post.

Harrold was again denied, this time by home goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, and Dayton had a short blocked, as Orient found themselves well in control, but the Fleet battled their way back once their pressure subsided without reward.

And they showed Davis' men how to do it four minutes before the break, when Kedwell powered a Myles Weston delivery beyond Charlie Grainger.

A change of shape yielded some improved possession after the interval, albeit still without creating much in the way of chances.

In fact, the first chance of note came in the 68th minute when Grainger palmed a Weston shot behind for a corner.

The O's were handed a lifeline by a brilliant Dayton strike in the final 120 seconds of normal time, but while David Mooney came close from an injury-time effort, his shot was held by Ashmore.

Leyton Orient: Grainger; Caprice (Judd 80), Ellis, Sendles-White, Happe (Boco 46), Brophy; Lawless (McAnuff 85), Westbrooke, Dayton; Mooney, Harrold.

Not used: Sargeant, Clay.