Gillingham 2 Leyton Orient 1: Cheye Alexander penalty and Omar Beckles’ own goal leads to EFL Trophy group stage win for Gills at Priestfield

Gillingham completed a comeback win over Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy after the visitors had two players sent off.

Orient deservedly led at the break after an unfortunate own goal from Glenn Morris separated the sides. The visitors had Shaq Forde and Brandon Cooper sent off in the space of four second-half minutes before Cheye Alexander levelled from the penalty spot and an Omar Beckles own-goal completed the turnaround.

Both managers made considerable changes to their starting elevens from the weekend league games, seven for the Gills and eight for visitors Leyton Orient. Both still named strong teams for the Trophy encounter.

The Gills had disappointed last time out in the league and manager Neil Harris sent out an impressive-looking side to take on Orient, including two of the visiting side’s former players, Shad Ogie and Ethan Coleman.

Connor Mahoney had an early shot blocked but Orient bossed the opening half, dominating possession and passing the ball around well, as the Gills struggled to find a way forward against their League 1 visitors.

Shaq Forde had the best of Orient’s early chances, exchanging passes on the edge of the Gills box before firing at goal. It was a good move but the shot was too close to the Gills keeper to be an issue.

Jonny Williams looked like being the man to open things up for Gills but even he ended up playing on the defensive as Orient knocked it around. A long spell of possession ended with a goal when George Moncur’s shot struck the post past the dive of Morris, but then hit the back of the keeper’s head and trickled back across the line.

The Gills couldn’t have any argument with the scoreline but in first-half stoppage-time they suddenly came alive. Direct running from Jayden Clarke