Leyton Orient continued their unbeaten start and are now within a point of the National League summit after James Dayton’s second-half strike secured a 1-0 win at Chesterfield.

The O’s wide man struck with 12 minutes remaining, finding the top corner after Joe Widdowson’s cross had not been properly dealt with.

With Justin Edinburgh opting to name an unchanged line-up for the fourth consecutive game, new signing Levi Lumeka had to be content with a place on the bench.

It was the hosts who started the better, with a last-ditch Widdowson tackle preventing Zavon Hines from breaking through on goal before the Chesterfield man forced Dean Brill into a fine save to keep out his header when he had been found free in the area.

Orient went close with their first effort on goal as Jobi McAnuff saw his free-kick tipped over, before Dayton’s delivery from the resultant corner clipped the post.

Following a goalless first half, the start of the second period remained tight but Jerome Binnom-Williams went close to making the breakthrough just before the hour when he struck a post with a 25-yard free-kick.

The visitors were made to wait for an opportunity after the break, but McAnuff was to force William Evans to block with his legs before an unmarked Macauley Bonne headed a Dayton cross narrowly wide.

After Dayton had made the breakthrough, O’s could have doubled their lead when Bonne was found in space 20 yards from goal but he put too much on his attempted lob and cleared the target.

Leyton Orient: Brill; Judd, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Widdowson; McAnuff, Lee, Clay, Dayton; Bonne, Koroma (Harrold 60). Subs not used: Sargeant, Happe, Gorman, Lumeka.