Orient started well, but it was Starosta who became the game's early focus, with a series of dangerous crosses; the first of which, on only three minutes, allowed Danny Hylton to pull behind his marker and hook a volley off the top of the bar.
Adam Boyd should have scored on 11 minutes, but with both time and space inside the six yard box, could only direct Wayne Gray's cross well wide. Then it was Gray's turn to be profligate, missing the target with a free header.
The home side, though, were looking more dangerous, and Morris did well to block Donnelly's shot at the end of a superb counter-attack that moved through Starosta, Harding and Morgan. Soon, Soares, Morgan and the dynamic Donnelly had also had opportunities fashioned by more stylish football.
Crucially, however, it didn't bring a goal, and, as Morgan skimmed a header wide just after the break, their profligacy was punished and a couple of Martin Ling's substitutes crafted the game's telling moment.
Donnelly lost possession on the left and as Peres whipped in an angled cross, Jarvis stole a yard in front of Blackburn to make the slightest touch that took the ball into the net off the inside of the far-post.
Aldershot continued to push, as Morgan and Hudson brought decent saves from Jones, but only Nikki Bull's point-blank save to deny Jarvis prevented Orient from extending their lead. Hudson flashed a drive just over the angle of post and bar, and Straker's cross somehow evaded Morgan, and the game was lost.
Waddock still declared himself delighted with his squad, and, having built a balanced, versatile and creative team, appears justified in doing so.
ATFC: Bull; Starosta (Thomas 57), Blackburn, Charles (Newman 61), Howell (Straker 46); Soares (Chalmers 46), Donnelly, Harding, Hudson; Hylton, Morgan.
Subs not used: Jaimez-Ruiz
LOFC: Morris (Jones 46); Purches (Cave-Brown 46), Thelwell (Palmer 46), Saah (Robson 74), Granville; Melligan (Peres 64), Terry, Chambers (Demetriou 46), Dawkins (B Gray 81); Boyd (Jarvis 46), W Gray (Shields 64).
Goal: Jarvis 67
Att.: 950