Azeem Abdulai struck a hat-trick as Leyton Orient moved into the League One play-off places after making it nine wins in their last 11 games with a 6-2 thrashing of Exeter.

Orient made a blistering start to the game and were 2-0 up inside seven minutes.

Abdulai swept in Dilan Markanday’s pass for the first and was then given the freedom of St James Park to finish with aplomb from Jamie Donley’s exquisite cross-field pass.

It was 3-0 in the 14th minute when Sean Clare curled a beauty into the top corner from 20 yards.

Orient then made it 4-0 after 34 minutes as Exeter made a hash of a free-kick, the O’s swarmed all over them to win the ball back and Donley put it on a plate for Markanday to slot past Exeter’s exposed goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.

Half-time substitute Tony Yogane crossed to the back post where Millenic Alli pulled one back for Exeter and the striker then headed in from an Ed Francis corner to make it 4-2 after 56 minutes.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed by Abdulai, who completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute when he turned in Jack Currie’s low cross.

The scoring was completed by Donley, who made it 6-2 with a superb volley from the edge of the penalty box 12 minutes from time to complete an emphatic win.