Cheltenham Town 0 Leyton Orient 1: All three of Cheltenham Town's previous battles against relegation from League One have boiled down to the final seven days of the season, but this time they could be doomed by Easter Saturday.

It is difficult to know who exactly is to blame for this dismal campaign, but Robins supporters have a right to feel peeved at what they have been forced to endure.

The mini-revival that has been staged by boss Martin Allen's unrecognisable side came to an end after a disappointing and very flat performance against Leyton Orient. The O's' third away win in succession took them to the verge of safety, ending Cheltenham's unbeaten run of five matches and leaving them on the verge of the drop.

Allen stuck with the side that drew 1-1 at Walsall seven days earlier, but too many players failed to live up to the encouraging standards they had shown in recent weeks.

The first half was highly forgettable, with Orient marginally the better team, and they led through a rare moment of quality in the 29th minute. Winger Dean Morgan latched on to a flick from Scott McGleish, evading the offside trap before executing a perfectly placed shot that rolled into the bottom right corner beyond the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Scott Brown.

Experienced campaigner McGleish did a job for Orient that nobody in the Cheltenham team could do for their side, making the ball stick in attack.

Tall frontman Leon Constantine was non-existent in the opening half and was hauled off at the break. His partner in attack, Elvis Hammond, made a couple of exciting runs from deep, but there was no end product or composure in the vicinity of the Orient goal and the shots that were fired were tame.

The Robins did improve after the break, with the introduction of young wingers Marley Watkins and David Hutton adding new life into their attacking play.

But only some heroic defending from Michael Townsend prevented Orient from scoring a second in the 50th minute. Morgan's ball found McGleish, who got the better of Andy Lindegaard, and the striker's low shot beat Brown, but Townsend blocked well and then threw himself in front of Simon Church's follow-up attempt on the line.

Debutant Hutton had Cheltenham's best effort at goal when Paul Connor set him up in the 74th minute, but Jamie Jones in the Orient goal made a fine reflex save.

Refereeing decisions have not cost Cheltenham their place in League One, but there is a strong case to suggest they would be nearer the safety line if luck had been on their side.

When Andy Gallinagh crossed from the right, the whole of Whaddon Road knew a penalty should have been awarded for a handball against James Smith, besides the man who counted the most – referee Gavin Ward.

Townsend was thrown up front late on and a series of late corners were forced by the Robins, but the sight of Brown leaving his penalty area and racing forward to add his height at a flag-kick but only reaching the opposite side of the centre circle before the cross came in rather summed up Cheltenham's afternoon.

Cheltenham Town: Brown; Lindegaard, Diallo, Townsend, Berchiche (Duff 84); Antonio (Watkins 46), Gallinagh, Artus, Connor; Hammond, Constantine (Hutton 46). Subs not used: Puddy, Finnigan.

Leyton Orient: Jones; Purches, (Thelwell 70), Mkandawire, Spencer, Daniels; Demetriou, Terry, Smith, Morgan (Gray 78); Church (Melligan 83), McGleish. Subs not used: Morris, Saah.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Attendance: 3,594.