[ 18 Apr 23 ] GILLS v Leyton Orient Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Leyton Orient lead the wins 28 to 26 and just 18 out of the 72 meetings have been drawn. The sides met 3 times in the 2013/14 season when Leyton Orient won all 3 fixtures. Since then, the Gills won 3 (all at Priestfield) and drawn 1 of the 4 league and cup games before the 0-2 loss this season.
- Leyton Orient's last 2 visits to Priestfield were both cup games and saw defeats making it 3 successive losses at the Gills. This followed a 3-game unbeaten spell which included their last wins at Priestfield in September and December 2013.
- Top side Leyton Orient have not taken the most leads in League 2 but have given away the fewest (9) and have the best difference between those taken and conceded (+22). The Gills have taken at least 1 lead in 9 of their last 10 home games, managing 11 in total and conceding 2.
- Leyton Orient are the best side in League 2 for both most minutes in the lead (1,500) and the shortest time behind (367). Since they last failed to take a lead, they have been ahead for 484 minutes combined in the 10 games and have only been behind for a total of 16 minutes.
- Leyton Orient are the side whose league opponents find it most difficult to score against - just 22.3% of the shots on target taken by their opponents resulted in goals. 33.3% of the 27 goals they conceded gave their opponents a lead, also the lowest total in the division.
- Leyton Orient have the division's best defence with 27 goals conceded, 3 fewer than the Gills have scored as League 2's lowest scorers. They have let in 1 more goal than the Gills have in their last 10 games however, and kept 2 fewer clean sheets. Orient's +29 goal difference is also the best in League 2.
- Leyton Orient's 23 clean sheets is the most in League 2 and their 8 blank sheets is the joint lowest total in the division. The Gills have kept 15 clean sheets and other than Orient, only Tranmere (16), Bradford (18), Carlisle (19) and Stockport (20) have managed more.

(19:47) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
The Gills can be mathematically safe if they match or better the Hartlepool result at Salford. Leyton Orient can be crowned champions if they match or better the Stevenage score at home to Doncaster and Northampton's result at Sutton or if those sides fail to win.

(19.50) Nichols breaks the Orient defence and digs a cross with the ball on the dead ball line. It's so deep, the 'keeper struggles to palm the ball away and it doesn't fall to a blue shirt to tap home. Play is brought back however for a very late offside decision against Nichols.

(19.53) The Gills lose possession after they kick the ball against each and it bounces to an Orient shirt. They break quickly and zip in a cross which could have gone anywhere, It rebounds just wide of goal and Gills put it out for a throw before a corner is given away.

(19.55) Gills half clear a Orient effort but a follow up shot skips over the outstretched foot of Morris on the ground and is cleared by Alexander just in front of the goalline.

(20.00) An Orient corner appears to evade everyone. An attacker dives at the ball which he either deflects just wide of the far post or it misses everyone. Lapslie is fouled from the resulting goal kick.

(20.02) Red Card! Omar Beckles is sent off for bringing down Lapslie right on the edge of the box. MacDonald scores from the resulting free kick which is touched to him by Williams.

(20.04) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Leyton Orient: MacDonald

(20.05) From the restart, the Gills drive forward and plays a defence splitting pass to Jefferies on the left. It's a little too wide so he blazes over with just the 'keeper to beat.

(20.10) Orient are rattled! Their head coach Richie Wellens receives a yellow card, one of 4 they will receive in the first half alongside the 14th minute red card.

(20.31) An Orient free kick from about 25 yards out appears to be tipped over by Morris but the referee does not agree and gives a goal kick.

(20.32) We start 4 additional minutes of time added on.

(20.36) Half time

(20.53) The second half kicks off.

(20.53) Alexander skips past 2 Orient defenders as if they weren't there! He finds the head of Nichols and the 'keeper palms the ball across the goal but there is no blue shirt to tap home.

(21.14) Williams concedes a free kick right on the edge of the D. The Gills form a 5 man wall which blocks the shot well. Gills clear, Orient counter-attack before the Gills do the same themselves. Gills happy to use their man advantage to maintain possession and probe chances in midfield.

(21.21) Orient give the ball away. Jefferies charges into the box and is fouled but the referee says it was right on the edge and he fell in. Penalty! MacDonald shoots from the free kick and the ball hits an arm, bounces into the ground and behind before the ref signals for the spot kick.

(21.24) GOAL! Gillingham 2-0 Leyton Orient: Alexander (pen)

(21.28) A power failure hits Priestfield. All lights and TV work is cut off.

(21.47) The lights are almost all back on. The Orient players start celebrating after learning they have won promotion after results elsewhere. The Gills players aren't celebrating however they are also safe due to results going their way!!!!!

(21.49) The game finally resumes! Both sets of players tap the ball around with little desire to press! This is VERY BIZARRE!

(22.01) A good cross for the head of Hawkins is headed away well deep inside the Orient half. There have been no corners, fouls or attempts at goal in the final 12 minutes!

(22.01) We go into additional time but we have no idea how long!

(22:01) FULL TIME 2-0
The ref decides to call time seconds into stoppage time. The Gills are safe and remain in League 2 next season!

Attendance: 6,629 (651)
Position: 17th
Referee: Carl Brook
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBd92d6yjDo
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65236266