Exeter: Jansson, Duffy, Seaborne, Taylor, Archibald-Henville, Sercombe (Stansfield, 61), Russell, Harley, Fleetwood (Corr, 74), Stewart, Noone

Subs not used: Marriott, Tully, Edwards, Cozic, Logan

Craig Noone's 35-yard debut goal for Exeter City prevented Leyton Orient taking their first home win of the season at Brisbane Road.

The winger's shot from the left wing looped towards Glenn Morris in the Orient goal, who could only help the ball into the net, and pegged back Geraint Williams' team, who had a slice of luck for their opener in the first half.

The goal from Noone, who had joined on loan from Plymouth Argyle earlier in the week, was a rare bright spot in an otherwise drab game where neither keeper had a great deal to do until the final ten minutes.

Both teams went into the game with an identical record of won one, drawn two and lost three, and there was little to separate the two on the pitch, with the O's providing plenty of industry in the middle while Exeter were happy to contain the home side.

City lined up in a familiar 4-5-1 with Stuart Fleetwood again playing the lone striker role, while Danny Seaborne started at left back.

Orient had the best of the opening exchanges with Adrian Patulea finding space to squeeze in a header, while Jimmy Smith broke the offside trap but shot wildly over.

Exeter's first chance came on 18 minutes when good work from Marcus Stewart found Fleetwood, who was squeezed out by the defence but Liam Sercombe pounced on the rebound, but his short was deflected.

With few chances from open play, the opener always looked likely to come from a set piece and in the 26th minute Charlie Daniels' poor 30-yard free kick took a big deflection off the Exeter wall to change direction and leave keeper Oscar Jansson flat-footed as the ball trickled over the line.

Orient's goal may have been lucky although the home side deserved their one goal lead at half time but whatever Paul Tisdale said to the team at half time had the desired effect as the Grecians came out flying with four shots in the opening eight minutes.

Much of this was due to Noone seeing more of the ball. The winger had been isolated in the first half, but once City adjusted to the new formation started feeding him the ball, the winger proceeded to give Andrew Cave-Brown a torrid time at right back and created several half-chances for himself.

While Exeter looked brighter going forward, they were also guilty of some sloppy play in the own half nearly went two down after Troy Archibald-Henville lost possession to Scott McGleish but the striker's piledriver was superbly tipped onto the bar by Jansson.

But the Spurs loanee made amends a few minutes later with a superb last-ditch tackle on Jason Demetriou in the box after the Cypriot had been put clear.

With the game opening up, Paul Tisdale brought on fresh legs up from with Adam Stansfield brought on for Sercombe to make his first appearance of the season, while Barry Corr replaced Fleetwood, and the extra man up front saw Orient pegged back in their own half.

Noone's goal, eleven minutes from time, was no less than both Exeter and the winger deserved, as he was given time and space to fire a shot towards the top corner, after City calmly passed the ball out from the back.

There was time for a brief rally from Orient as both sides pushed for a winner as the game finally game alive in the last ten minutes, with end-to-end football that saw Jansson make a couple of vital interceptions while Ryan Harley nearly opened up the Orient defence on a couple of occasions.

But a draw was probably a fair result as Orient played fine without impressing while City had some sublime moments but were also guilty of occasional pieces of sloppy passing. Harley and Noone impressed, Matt Taylor was solid as ever at the back and Jansson looks a good deputy for Paul Jones while City's first-choice keeper recovers from injury.

For Exeter, the point is vital after two losses, especially ahead of the visit of Tranmere next weekend, when Paul Tisdale's men will be looking to pick up their first three points at St James Park this season.