Orient win promotion after a goalless draw at home to Braintree Town
Saturday 27 April 2019 15:32, UK
Leyton Orient have won promotion back to League Two after a goalless draw at home to Braintree Town on Saturday secured them top spot on the final day of the National League season.
Orient, who were relegated from the EFL in 2017, needed just a point to secure top spot and the solitary automatic promotion place, and managed that against the already relegated side at Brisbane Road.
Salford City and Solihull Moors were hoping to capitalise on any potential slip-ups, but Salford were beaten 3-2 at Hartlepool, while Solihull were held to a draw at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Both sides will now feature in the National League play-offs, qualifying for the semi-finals, while Wrexham, Fylde, Harrogate Town and Eastleigh booked their spots in the quarter-finals.
Orient dominated the game but could not find a way through Braintree's staunch defence, but any pressure on Justin Edinburgh's side started to ease as news filtered through of Salford's demise against Hartlepool.
The hosts held on for the point they needed and the home fans flooded the pitch to celebrate their return to the EFL.
The club tweeted after the game: "After the relegations and the financial woes. After the fights and battles to save our club. After the rebuild and the uniting of players and fans alike. WE ARE BACK."
There could be yet more success for Orient as they look to seal the non-league double when they take on AFC Flyde in the FA Trophy final on Sunday, 19 May.
