Curtis Weston evades an Orient challenge Picture: Simon O'Connor

Gillingham suffered another away day defeat on Tuesday at Leyton Orient but had plenty of excuses on a bizarre night in East London.

Major traffic problems delayed fans and players, with the Gills having just seven players to name by seven o’clock.

Referee Andy D’Urso refused to delay the kick-off, forcing manager Mark Stimson to name his team once eleven players had turned up. At one stage that eleven consisted of two keepers.

By kick-off just Barry Fuller and Febian Brandy of the expected starting eleven were left on the sidelines.

Mark McCammon, John Nutter and Stuart Lewis came into the side, while Chris Palmer was left on the bench alongside Brandy and Fuller.

Gillingham trailed 2-1 at the break and conceded a third just four minutes into the second half. Just 3,183 fans braved the roads to make the match, with 711 Gillingham fans turning up at various points throughout the game.

That’s the way it stayed as Gillingham made it ten League 1 away matches without a win.

Manager Mark Stimson was hoping referee D’Urso would put kick-off back to eight o’clock to give him time to name a full-strength team, but that didn't happen.

“It was a bit of a nightmare situation and unfortunately we didn’t get any leeway with the referee,” said Stimson.

“I had to put the team sheet in an hour before the game and was told that if any players were taken off the team sheet they wouldn’t be allowed in the 18 and it made it really difficult.

“I gambled with Josh Gowling and Matt Fry. I spoke to them at about half six and they were getting on a train at Stratford to get here on time. Luckily enough they did. Febian came in five or ten minutes after but Mark McCammon’s name was already on the starting line up.

“The boys went out there and conceded an early goal, which was a wonder strike, but then got back into the game with a decent goal ourselves from Curtis Weston.

“The second goal we conceded we gave possession away on the half-way line cheaply and the kid broke away. For the third we had possession on their box and they broke and scored.”

Audio: Referee Andy D'Urso explains why kick-off wasn't delayed

Added to Gillingham’s woes before kick-off was that their kit never showed up. No doubt it was stranded with many fans between the Blackwall Tunnell and East London. It forced Stimson’s men to wear Orient’s change kit.

Gillingham went behind after just four minutes when Ryan Jarvis turned home a flick-of from Jimmy Smith following Charlie Daniels’ cross.

The Gills went back on the offensive immediately and with 20 minutes gone Curtis Weston smashed home to level the scores.

Orient went back ahead just before the half hour mark through Sean Thornton.

Gillingham should have been level again when Simeon Jackson was put clean through on the keeper, but a poor effort was saved by Jamie Jones.

The second half was just four minutes old when Orient broke and Smith struck home from the edge of the area to put the hosts 3-1 up.

Jackson stung the keeper’s hands just after the hour and substitute Brandy shot powerfully into the side netting as Stimson’s men refused to give in.

With ten minutes left Brandy turned and shot wide as time began to run out for the Gills.

Gills: Royce, Nutter, Lewis (Fuller 62mins), Maher, Bentley (Oli 69mins), Jackson, Barcham, Gowling, Fry, Weston, McCammon (Brandy 59mins). Subs not used: Fuller, Palmer, Julian, Yussuf, Rooney.

Orient: Jones, Purhces, Chorley, Mkandawire, McGleish, Thornton (Demetriou 57mins), Daniels, Jarvis (Patulea 66mins), Summerfield, Smith, Townsend. Subs not used: Morris, Ashworth, Melligan, Cave-Brown, Scowcroft.

Attendance: 3,183