Match ends, Gillingham 3, Leyton Orient 2.
GillinghamGillingham3Leyton OrientLeyton Orient2
Cody McDonald's injury-time goal earned a thrilling win for Gillingham moments after Chris Dagnall seemed to have secured Leyton Orient a draw.
Orient were trailing 2-1 when Gillingham's Michael Doughty saw red, but Dagnall headed them level, only for McDonald to strike in the 98th minute.
O's keeper Adam Legzdins saved a Danny Kedwell penalty and they led through Gianvito Plasmati's spot-kick.
But the Gills hit back through two Leon Legge headers before the late drama.
The win sees the hosts move out of the League One relegation zone and means Orient drop into the bottom four.
Gillingham boss Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Kent:
"It's a lovely feeling to get three points again, against a team who are down there with us but still have a lot of good players that they had last year
"Michael Doughty played Dickenson in really well, really positive start and then we get the penalty. We were hoping then it would be 1-0 but it wasn't but the lads had to keep going - and they did.
"I can't really praise the players enough because we got a lot out of Tuesday night because we won a game there with 10 men and I'm sure we've got a lot out of today.
"Leon Legge is getting better as a player, doing well, defending better. He's so powerful in the air that if he keeps moving around he's hard to mark and I thought his two headers were outstanding."
Leyton Orient manager Mauro Milanese told BBC London 94.9:
"We tried our best today, at 90 minutes we were drawing. Three free-kicks cost us - maybe the third one from the referee was a bit generous which created the corner and the last goal.
"We did everything we could have done on the pitch, but we need to defend the free-kicks better. Something was not working for us there.
"From my opinion there was no penalty, but we stayed in the game and did try and win but a little mistake cost us. It seems to be the story of the season so far."
Line-ups
Gillingham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Nelson
- 31Hoyte
- 4Egan
- 6Legge
- 28Chicksen
- 7LoftBooked at 81mins
- 8Hessenthaler
- 21DoughtyBooked at 76mins
- 11McGlashanSubstituted forDackat 62'minutes
- 9KedwellSubstituted forMcDonaldat 62'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 24Dickenson
Substitutes
- 2Fish
- 10McDonald
- 12Morris
- 14German
- 16Linganzi
- 19Norris
- 23Dack
Leyton Orient
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Legzdins
- 5Cuthbert
- 12LowrySubstituted forBaudryat 69'minutes
- 15Clarke
- 32Dossena
- 18PritchardBooked at 54mins
- 4Vincelot
- 17Wright
- 7Cox
- 30PlasmatiSubstituted forDagnallat 61'minutes
- 27SimpsonSubstituted forMooneyat 39'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Omozusi
- 3Sawyer
- 6Baudry
- 10Mooney
- 14Batt
- 23Dagnall
- 33Woods
- Referee:
- Darren Deadman
- Attendance:
- 5,891
Match Stats
Home TeamGillinghamAway TeamLeyton Orient
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Gillingham 3, Leyton Orient 2.
Booking
Cody McDonald (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 3, Leyton Orient 2. Cody McDonald (Gillingham) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Brennan Dickenson.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Nathan Clarke.
Post update
Cody McDonald (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Scott Cuthbert (Leyton Orient).
Post update
Attempt saved. Romain Vincelot (Leyton Orient) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 2, Leyton Orient 2. Chris Dagnall (Leyton Orient) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Scott Cuthbert.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Josh Wright.
Post update
Corner, Leyton Orient. Conceded by Doug Loft.
Post update
Corner, Leyton Orient. Conceded by Doug Loft.
Booking
Doug Loft (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Doug Loft (Gillingham).
Post update
Romain Vincelot (Leyton Orient) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Bradley Pritchard.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Michael Doughty (Gillingham).
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 2, Leyton Orient 1. Leon Legge (Gillingham) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jake Hessenthaler.
Post update
John Egan (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Chris Dagnall (Leyton Orient).
