What seemed like an unlikely New Year’s resolution came to fruition the week after Easter when Alex MacDonald’s superb free kick and Chey Alexander’s second half penalty gave Neil Harris’ side their ninth win in eleven games at Fortress Priestfield to guarantee Football League safety.
But it was one of those bizarre football occasions when even the losing side won as after a ten-minute delay for a floodlight failure, results already in meant that whilst the Gills faithful were celebrating staying in the League, the travelling Leyton Orient fans were celebrating promotion into League One.
This night belonged to the Gills as they finalised the Great Escape as the three points took them past the fifty-point mark and meant that a gap at the bottom of seven points around the turn of the year, now sees them twelve points in front of second from bottom Hartlepool with just nine precious points to play for…
The game itself had just about everything as the visitors looked in a hurry to get the points they needed for their promotion as they flew out of the blocks – Glenn Morris made a magnificent save to deny Darren Pratley and then from a corner, two Orient players tried – and failed – to convert as the ball flashed across the box.
The game turned on the quarter hour when George Lapslie was crudely taken out by Omar Beckles and the visitors were down to ten men for the remaining 75 minutes and from the resulting free kick, they were a goal down too.
Shaun Williams rolled the ball for MacDonald whose curling beauty did the rest and Priestfield exploded in celebration.
Orient were clearly rocked and were grateful for the half time whistle to arrive.
It was almost two nil literally seconds into the second period as Tom Nichols thought he’d scored with a header only for Lawrence Vigouroux to pull off an outstanding save to keep the promotion chasers in the game.
Gillingham were outstanding all the way across the pitch as time after time, Orient simply ran out of ideas.
And it was the home side who doubled their lead with quarter of an hour left. MacDonald’s free kick was handled by a defender and Alexander gleefully hammered the ball left as the keeper dived right.
Priestfield was rocking as the side with the best defensive record in League Two and who had only previously been beaten five times in forty-one games simply had no answer and seemingly any promotion party hopes by the Medway were definitely off the menu.
But then the lights across Gillingham went out completely plunging Priestfield into darkness, that some fans quipped hadn’t been seen since before Christmas!
But when they came back on after around a ten-minute delay, results elsewhere – namely Hartlepool’s defeat at Salford and Bradford’s defeat at Swindon – meant that if the score didn’t change in the remaining time, it would be mission accomplished for both sides.
Whilst we congratulate Orient on promotion, the loudest cheer must belong to the Rainham End. Seven points adrift in 92nd place in the Football League with just five league goals scored to mathematical safety and the Champions elect outplayed with three games to go is nothing short of amazing for Harris and his Gills – now to sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of one of the most turbulent in the Club’s 129 year history ahead of a potentially exciting and mind blowing 130th …
GILLINGHAM – Morris, Alexander, Ehmer, Masterson, McKenzie, Williams (Coleman 74), Dieng, Jefferies, Lapslie, MacDonald, Nichols (Hawkins 70).
Subs not used – Turner, Tutonda, Wright, Clarke.
Goals: MacDonald (16), Alexander (pen 76).
Booked: Ehmer (32).
LEYTON ORIENT – Vigouroux, James, Beckles, Turns (Ogie 77), Hunt, El Mizouni, Pratley (Brown 60), Smyth (Kelman 77), Moncur, Sadlier (McCart 19), Sotiriou (Drinan 61).
Subs not used – Sargeant, Clay.
Booked: Pratley (21), Smyth (26), Hunt (45+3), Turns (73).
Sent Off: Beckles (14).
REFEREE – Mr Carl Brook
Attendance: 6629
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.