Gillingham 2 Leyton Orient 1

GUYLAIN NDUMBU-NSUNGU struck an 88th minute penalty to hand Gillingham maximum points against Leyton Orient.

The Gills were forced to come back from a goal down to beat the Londoners with two second half strikes in the final ten minutes sealing the win.

Gillingham’s hopes were helped when Orient’s Luke Gutteridge was sent-off in the 71st minute, and from then on the home side were on top and managed to get back into the game.

A deflected effort saw Andrew Crofts claim the equaliser on 80 minutes and Ndumbu-Nsungu’s spot kick separated the sides as Gillingham were given a tough work-out against the visitors.

Gillingham had the better of the first half, but Orient took the lead against the run of play, when James Walker lashed the ball into the roof of the net after the visitors broke clear.

The goal came seconds after Matt Jarvis had come close to scoring at the other end, only to see his close range effort blocked on the line by keeper Glyn Garner.

Earlier chances for the Gills saw Crofts’ low shot well saved by Garner, while Michael Flynn flashed a shot over the bar from long range.

Gillingham struggled in the second half and it wasn’t until Gutteridge was sent off for a second bookable offence that the home stepped up a gear.

The equaliser was claimed by Crofts, after he deflected Clint Easton's cross towards goal, although O’s defender Brian Saah also got a touch as did striker Bas Savage.

A foul on Matt Jarvis handed Gillingham the chance to win the game and substitute Ndumbu-Nsungu tucked away the spot kick to stretch the unbeaten home run to six games.

Gills: Brill, Jupp (Ndumbu-Nsungu 77), Easton, Cox, Crofts, Chorley, Savage, Flynn (Pouton 45), Bentley, Jarvis, Mulligan. Subs Not Used: Jackman, Collin. Att: 8,216.