Leyton Orient 2 Gillingham 0 League 2 match report: Second-half goals by Paul Smyth and Ruel Sotiriou for leaders Orient

Gillingham’s search for a League 2 away win continues after leaders Leyton Orient scored twice in the second half to take maximum points at Brisbane Road on Tuesday night.

The visitors had impressed during a goalless first half but they couldn’t repeat that display as the gulf between the promotion contenders and Gills was clear to see after the break.

Gillingham made three changes from the weekend draw against Barrow, with captain Stuart O’Keefe, Lewis Walker and Jordan Green all coming into the starting XI. Mikael Mandron, Alex MacDonald and Scott Kashket were the trio dropping out.

There was much debate around how Gills would line up but it was a back four with Cheye Alexander at left-back. Ahead of that, Hakeeb Adelakun and Jordan Green dropped back into midfield when Gills were without the ball to mark the home side’s two holding midfielders and it prevented Orient getting any flow to their game. For 45 minutes, it worked perfectly.

Theo Archibald, whose double at Carlisle on Saturday fired Orient back to the top of League 2, sent a speculative early shot wide of the upright from an angle but thereafter the hosts were largely devoid of ideas.

It was Gills who fashioned the clearest openings of the half. The impressive Green fed O’Keefe but he took too long to get his shot away and it ended up being a cross which was blocked by the covering Dan Happe.

Walker had a physical battle with Orient centre-back Omar Beckles, the pair were spoken to by referee Charles Breakspear throughout the first half but it was good to see the rookie Gills striker giving as good as he got. He showed strength to hold off Tom James from Will Wright’s long ball forward but then fired over from 20 yards when he needed to show more composure.