Jake Gray's first professional goals earned Hartlepool a 3-1 Sky Bet League Two win over Leyton Orient at Victoria Park.

The Crystal Palace loanee netted twice in the final 20 minutes after Kudus Oyenuga cancelled out Bradley Pritchard's early opener with a 20th-minute penalty.

Orient were rewarded for a bright start in the 13th minute when Pritchard capitalised on Pools' failure to clear Lloyd James' chipped pass by side-footing home.

The hosts were gifted a leveller seven minutes later as Alan Dunne inexplicably handled in the area, paving the way for Oyenuga to net a second goal in as many games.

Both teams crafted good chances after the break, Matthew Bates heading narrowly over for Pools before Carson produced a stunning stop to keep out Mathieu Baudry's close-range header.

The goalkeeper's heroics took on added significance in the 70th minute as Gray's 20-yard strike deflected off Dunne and into the net.

There was no such fortune about the midfielder's second, Gray powering home a superb finish after getting on the end of Kal Naismith's delicious through-ball.

That strike settled the nerves and Pools saw the game out to secure a first home league victory since August.