The Town ended 2025 on a high as three first-half goals made it back-to-back home wins to move Jack Wilshere’s side to within two points of the top six.

Gideon Kodua opened the scoring with a fine strike on eight minutes before Jordan Clark doubled the lead from the penalty spot.

And the Hatters were three goals to the good eight minutes before the interval when Shayden Morris found the target.

The Town protected their lead well in the second period with two more games to come this week, and Josh Keeley made several good saves to ensure he kept his 10th clean sheet of the campaign.

Showing one change to the side that beat Wycombe 4-0 on Boxing Day, with Morris replacing Cohen Bramall in the starting XI, the Town began with a bang and were ahead early on in style.

Mads Andersen’s pass found Kodua 20 yards from goal and the winger took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable low drive into the far corner of the net. It was the West Ham loanee’s sixth goal in his last 12 games – and his second against Orient.

In a bright opening for both sides, Nahki Wells saw a snap-shot blocked before Andersen did well to charge-down an effort from former Town academy graduate Tyreeq Bakinson at the other end.

But 10 minutes after taking the lead the Town had the chance to double their advantage when Wells was upended by Jack Simpson in the box and referee Neil Hair pointed to the spot. Captain Clark took responsibility and placed an accurate finish low into the bottom corner for his third goal in as many games.

Orient briefly threatened when Tom James’ effort from distance was held by Keeley on 34 minutes but three minutes later the Hatters extended their lead.

Kodua was this time to architect, wriggling down the left to clip in a deft cross that was glanced goalwards by Wells. The ball fell perfectly for Morris at the back-post and the winger added to his Boxing Day goal by slamming home from close range.

The visitors spurned a glorious chance to reduce arrears moments before the break when Dominic Ballard skied over the bar from five yards out.

At the break, Wilshere replaced Liam Walsh with George Saville as the Town, shooting towards the Kenilworth Road, went in search of more goals.

However, both sides failed to add to the tally in a second period that failed to match the energy of the first.

Clark came close to adding a fourth on the hour when attacking Kodua’s cut-back before the Hatters had Teden Mengi to thank for a goal-line clearance with 18 minutes left.

As time ticked down, the Hatters made changes with trips to Exeter, on Thursday, and Sunday, at Doncaster, in mind.

And Keeley had the final say to ensure a 10th clean sheet of the campaign when keeping out Ollie O’Neill’s curling shot in the final minute – and that was that.

So goodbye 2025. Here’s hoping 2026 is as good as this year has ended.

Happy New Year and see you at Exeter.

UTT.

Town: Keeley, Lonwijk (sub Walters 69), Johnson, Andersen, Mengi, Walsh (sub Saville 46), Fanne (sub Nelson 69), Clark, Kodua, Morris (sub Bramall 56), Wells (sub Yates 69).

Subs: Shea, Brown.

Attendance: 11,736, including 1,327 shouting for Orient.