Scott Kashket gives Wycombe a brilliant eighth win on the spin as his solitary goal gives Gareth Ainsworth and his men real festive cheer

The former Orient player rifled into the corner of Alex Cisak’s net on 50 minutes after the Orient stopper had saved well from Paris Cowan-Hall.

In a game of few chances, Gareth Ainsworth will be indebted to Kashket, who he signed on a free transfer from the O’s in the summer.

This was Kashket’s 11th goal in just 11 games and he underlined his importance as Wycombe extended their brilliant winning run.

Ainsworth was forced to make one change to the team that won 2-0- at Notts County with Garry Thompson replacing the suspended Adebayo Akinfenwa. Captain Paul Hayes was also ruled out with a knock.

It was a fairly even start by both sides with Gavin Massey threatening early on for the visitors with a couple of dangerous crosses before Kashket blazed wide from the left hand side of the box on eight minutes.

Kashket was determined to prove a point against the side who dispenses with his services in the summer. He had an even better attempt a couple of moments later when his drilled effort from 20 yards went just wide of Cisak’s post.

The home team were slowly getting on top after a bright start by the visitors, gradually camping themselves in the O’s half.

Cowan-Hall went on an enterprising run on 14 minutes but saw his shot deflected away for a throw-in deep into Orient territory.

The opening 20 minutes passed with neither keeper being tested in an interesting and closely fought contest.

The in-form Kashket had the first shot on target of the match on 23 minutes when his long range daisycutter was easily gathered by Cisak.

The East Londoners were awarded a corner on 25 minutes when Callum Kennedy’s inswinging set piece came back out to him but he thundered a shot well over the bar.

The best chance of the game so far came on 29 minutes when Jay Simpson smashed a shot just wide with Blackman scrambling.

The Chairboys came back strongly from that close shave and Joe Jacobson’s excellent cross found Luke O’Nien who stretched to volley but Cisak made a comfortable save.

Orient were then denied the lead on 41 minutes when Simpson’s dangerous low cross was tapped home by Paul McCallum, but he was adjudged offside.

Wanderers kicked off the second half towards the home faithful and an early shot within 30 seconds by Matt Bloomfield fell wide of the target.

The home side certainly started the second half on the front foot and Kashket had a penalty appeal waved away on 47 minutes by referee Alan Young, who replaced Rob Lewis at half-time.

However, three minutes later Kashket wasn’t to be denied when he gleefully smashed home following good work by Cowan-Hall.

Wycombe were certainly livelier than they had been in the first half with Kashket’s pace, in particular, causing a real headache for the visitors’ backline.

As the game entered the latter stages, Orient were really not making any inroads into the Wycombe defence and with 15 minutes to go they were looking pretty toothless in attack.

The last quarter of an hour saw Wycombe on top, repelling any potential threat from the O’s, with Anthony Stewart extremely impressive at the heart of the Chairboys defence.

Kashket left the field to a standing ovation on 89 minutes, his hard work and quality finish earnt a huge reception.

Wanderers had to keep the O’s at bay for six more minutes at the end of the game but successfully did so and they enter the Boxing Day clash with Plymouth Argyle oozing confidence.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Blackman, Harriman, Jacobson, Stewart, Pierre, Gape, O’Nien, Bloomfield, Kashket (sub, Wood, 89), Thompson, Cowan-Hall (sub, Weston, 90). Subs: Richardson, Jombati, Bean, Rowe, De Havilland.

LEYTON ORIENT: Cisak, Judd, Kennedy (sub: Mezague, 62), Hunt, Parkes, Weir (sub: Dalby, 82), Atangana, Massey, Bowery (sub: Semedo, 73), McCallum, Simpson. Subs: Sargeant, Pollock, Nnomo, Erichot.

REFEREE: Rob Lewis (Alan Young, 46)

ATTENDANCE: 4,517 (Orient 458)