PERHAPS those who decided to stay well away from Neasham Road on Saturday were wise enough to know what to expect.

There were 4,371 at the Darlington Football Stadium four days earlier to watch Quakers' 2-0 win over Stockport.

Yet, strangely, there were 350 less at the weekend, perhaps fortunate enough to be doing the Saturday big shop instead.

It was the manner in which Quakers slumped to their first defeat of the season which angered those whose only intention of seeing out the 93 minutes played by referee Jonathan Moss was to vent their disapproval at a performance which was simply unacceptable.

Shelton Martis' failure to control skipper Matt Clarke's first minute pass across the back-four set the tone for the rest of the game.

The big screen showing the game couldn't even provide a welcome distraction for those who winced at each misplaced pass.

Perhaps next time, it may be worth showing the first half display against Stockport as a reminder of what David Hodgson's men are capable of. Because on Saturday they were anything but free-flowing. Free-falling perhaps and over-elaborate to the point of frustration.

How difficult it must have been for Hodgson to witness this horror show from a side which had displayed so much promise in taking four points from their opening two games.

If any consolation, Saturday's defeat provided Hodgson with the harshest of reminders that there is still a lot for his new look squad to learn.

After seeing last season's play-off bid ravaged by inconsistency, Hodgson can only hope that what happened 48 hours ago was only a minor, early season blip.

It would be quite easy for Hodgson to turn around and put Saturday's defeat down to the old clich that his side need time to gel.

But, in straight forward layman's terms, Hodgson's men just didn't do the business. Pretty far from in fact.

And, Hodgson, surprisingly relaxed afterwards, offered few excuses saying: "We made errors in all areas of the pitch which just isn't good enough.

"It all started with the first wayward pass in the first minute and the rot set in. As I've got older and wiser I've realised that there isn't much I can do about it once they're out there and on the pitch.

"You have to sit and wait and hope that it clicks into place, but when nobody is working harder to make it happen you might as well wrap up for the day.

"We had words at half-time, but obviously 15 minutes wasn't long enough.

"You hope that your players can sit in the dressing room afterwards knowing that they've gave everything. But we haven't - we were all over the place."

Disconcertingly, within the space of four days, Quakers have shown their good and bad side - a trend which has an all too familiar ring about it.

"We played well against Stockport and I was hoping that we wouldn't have to talk about a poor performance the next game," said Hodgson.

"It's almost the same as last season and I'm at a loss as to why it happens. All I've got to do now is see how they prepare themselves mentally for the Grimsby game."

Hodgson may reconsider his decision to play 6ft 3ins centre-half Martis at right-back when Quakers travel to Blundell Park.

At Nene Park seven days earlier, Martis filled the role to Hodgson's satisfaction, and again in midweek against Stockport.

But, on Saturday, a lack of experience on the right proved costly.

Not for the first time in the game Martis was a yard short of Shane Tudor in the 41st minute, before clumsily taking a swipe at the Os winger, inches inside the Quakers box.

"I thought Shelton should have got there quicker, but I didn't think it was a penalty," said Hodgson. "If he'd showed the pace he's got he would have got there and not had to make the tackle."

Orient full-back Matt Lockwood duly despatched the spot-kick to give the visitors their best start to the season since 1912. Martin Ling's men are the only side in League Two to boast a 100 per cent record.

However, there was little to suggest that Orient will have the staying power to mix it with the best this season.

The visitors were well organised at the back in snuffing out the threat of Clyde Wijnhard and Simon Johnson.

Wijnhard, in particular, must be sick of the sight of the Os. Last season, the former Leeds striker was hauled off after just 31 minutes at Brisbane Road. At least he made it to half-time on Saturday before Hodgson withdrew the frustrated forward.

Only the dependable Ryan Valentine and Carlos Logan tested keeper Glyn Garner in the first half, with opposite number Sam Russell the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Tudor and Lee Steele both found Russell difficult to beat in the opening 45 minutes.

After Neil Wainwright wasted a good opportunity to draw his side level in the 55th minute, Garner produced the save of the game, brilliantly pushing away Simon Johnson's close range header.

Joey Hutchinson and the woodwork combined to keep out Steele's 74th minute header, before substitute Craig Easton's cross-cum-shot struck the bar with Russell beaten.