Gillingham 3 Leyton Orient 1

GILLINGHAM produced their best performance of the season to beat League 1 leaders Leyton Orient.

The Londoners came into the game having won all four away games but they were made to look ordinary by a classy Gills display.

David Graham netted twice, either side of the break, and winger Barry Cogan secured the points with a third. Jabo Ibehre pulled one back for the visitors but Gills had enough to see off Orient’s late rally.

Joint caretaker manager Mick Docherty praised the side’s collective spirit which he felt played a major part in Tuesday night’s win.

“We’re delighted with the win,” he said. “There has been a dramatic turnaround in the players’ form. The togetherness that we’ve got now is wonderful to see and that can and does bring success.”

Gillingham controlled the first half and their opener on 26 minutes was fully deserved.

Nicky Southall, recalled to the side after being dropped for the Leeds game, opened up the chance with a ball to Facey. He pulled it back for Graham and the striker hit a powerful low shot into the bottom corner.

Simon Royce made a couple of decent saves to keep Gillingham ahead, and Andrew Crofts nearly doubled that in first half injury time, with a long range effort that went narrowly over.

Five minutes into the second half the lead was doubled, when Graham added his second, after Facey pulled it across the goal for his strike partner.

Cogan added the third on 66 minutes as he was given too much space inside the area and had time to tuck away Southall’s deep free-kick.

Orient, who in their previous game had come back from two goals down to win the game, pulled one back on 73 minutes through substitute Ibehre as he caught the Gills defence sleeping.

Royce made another couple of good stops to keep Orient out as they desperately sought a way back into the game.

Gills: Royce, Clohessy, Cox, Sodje, Hamilton (King 81mins), Southall, Crofts, Nowland (Stone 85mins), Cogan, Facey, Graham (Mulligan 72mins).
Subs Not Used: Stillie, Dickson.

Orient: Nelson, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Melligan (Daniels 60mins), Chambers, Gray (Ibehre 60mins), Thornton (Terry 69mins), Corden, Boyd, Palmer, Demetriou. Subs Not Used: Morris, Oji.Referee: Pat Miller. Attendance: 5,632