Gills players congratulate Curtis Weston on his goal Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham eliminated League 1 team from the FA Cup for the second time this season on Saturday.

A first-half strike from Curtis Weston was enough to book the Gills a place in round three of the competition. The win at Leyton Orient comes after the Gills had beaten Bournemouth in the first round.

The third round draw takes place live on ITV1 on Sunday at around 2.40pm. The Gills are ball number 50 and Manchester United are 25.

Gillingham frustrated the hosts in the first half and limited them to few chances, with Leon McSweeney firing wide and Lee Cook sending an effort straight into the hands of keeper Ross Flitney.

Andy Hessenthaler had opted to hand Stefan Payne a rare start and he was played in behind Danny Kedwell. Also offering support was Weston and Danny Jackman in an attack-minded line-up.

It was a formation that was equally adept at keeping things tight and they ensured Flitney had a reasonably quiet first 45 minutes. Gillingham found their range quicker than the hosts and Lewis Montrose hit a low shot through a crowd of bodies but keeper Ben Alnwick was there to save.

Shouts of a penalty rang out loud around the Matchroom Stadium from the big away following after it appeared that Scott Cuthbert had handled. Referee Phillip Gibbs waved play on.

The half ended on a high for the Gills when Charlie Lee slung in a long throw and Weston hooked the shot across Alnwick to give Hessenthaler's men the lead.

Kedwell should have put the Gills 2-0 up just before the hour, when Alnwick made a hash of his clearance which fell to the feet of the Gills striker, but he was unable to convert from close range.

Orient had the ball in the net with 64 minutes gone but the effort from half-time substitute Jamie Cureton was ruled out for offside.

The Gills were looking to hit the hosts on the break in the latter stages as Orient threw men forward. It made for a tense finish.

Weston lobbed an effort just over the bar with five minutes left and Dennis Oli hit the back of the home end with a shot. Home fans had appeals for their own penalty in the last minute when Stephen Dawson went down under Danny Jackman’s challenge but once again Gibbs was unmoved.

In the fourth minute of injury time, Lee Cook smashed a shot off the underside of the bar but seconds later the final whistle blew to the relief of the travelling support.

Gillingham: Flitney, Lee, Martin, Richards, Frampton, J Payne, Jackman, Montrose, Weston (Fish 90mins), Kedwell, S Payne (Oli 68mins). Subs not used: Davies, Rance, Essam, Evans, Gazzaniga.

Orient: Alnwick, Chorley (Forbes 46mins), Cuthbert, Dawson, McSweeney, Porter (Mooney 79mins), Spring, Laird (Cureton 46mins), Cook, Clark, Lisbie. Subs not used: Butcher, Cestor, Smith, Lobjoit.

Attendance: 3,763.

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