Rovers were edged out 1-0 in a competitive clash with Sky Bet League Two leaders Leyton Orient.

After Rovers showed the greater threat in the first half, it was a volley from Orient’s Theo Archibald that proved to be the difference in the clash.

Danny Schofield kept faith with the same starting XI for the third consecutive game while the bench featured Academy product Will Flint for the first time.

Rovers enjoyed the better of the opening quarter of the game as quick movement of the ball across the pitch fashioned opportunities.

Tom Anderson was the first player of the afternoon with sight of the goal as he sent a header narrowly over the bar from a corner.

Pressing well, Kyle Hurst cut out a kick from Orient keeper Lawrence Vigouroux but found his path to goal obscured.

The league leaders showed flashes of threat and it took a vital header from Kyle Knoyle to prevent an Archibald cross from reaching Aaron Drinan at the back post. From the subsequent corner Jonathan Mitchell pushed the ball from under his bar.

The best chance of the first half came at the midpoint. Luke Molyneux touched the ball into the box to send George Miller in but, after cutting back onto his other foot, the striker dragged his shot wide.

Mitchell got across well to keep out a curling effort from Archibald that was threatening the near post.

Orient changed shape at the break and found a greater foothold in the game.

But it took them until after the hour mark to truly threaten, with Tom James seeing a powerful strike deflected wide for a corner. From that dead ball, Mitchell produced an excellent save to stop and hold a volley from substitute Ruel Sotiriou.

The hosts took the lead on 68 minutes. The ball dropped to Archibald outside the area and he drilled a dipping volley over Mitchell and under the bar.

The remainder of the game was played out in a torrential rainstorm, with deteriorating conditions making play increasingly difficult.

Rovers piled on the pressure in the later stages but were unable to create an opening for the equaliser.

Orient: Vigouroux, Hunt, Brown, Thompson, James, Pratley, El Mizouni, Archibald, Moncur (Sotiriou 52), Smyth (Duke-McKenna 80), Drinan (Kelman 89). Subs not used: Sargeant, Clay, Wareham, Sweeney.

Rovers: Mitchell, Knoyle, Williams, Anderson, Seaman, Biggins, Close, Maxwell, Molyneux (Woltman 69), Hurst (Agard 76), Miller. Subs not used: Jones, Flint, Long, Ravenhill, Barlow.