Gillingham's second string enjoyed a good work out in warm spring sunshine at Brisbane Road but once again paid the price for not finishing their chances.
Gills' Daran Hawkes was the first keeper tested, pushing Patulea's powerful third minute shot-on-the-turn around his near post for a corner, as the O's created the early pressure.
On 12 minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty when Patulea rode a series of challenges before being scythed down in the box by Stuart Lewis. Loick Pires took the spot-kick, slicing a low effort towards Hawkes' right side, but was denied as the Gills custodian dived quickly to smoother his weak shot.
Hawkes was by far the busier keeper and was soon called upon to stop further chances for the lively Patulea and a Harry Baker drive from the edge of the box.
Orient finally found the net in the 20th minute from a Baker corner, Gillingham failed to clear, and although Hawkes blocked Patulea's header, he was powerless to prevent Pires nodding in the rebound.
A switch of flanks for Cumbers and Yussuff, midway through the half, gave the visitors a more attacking shape. But a second penalty award, albeit a harsh one, for Essam's foul on Patulea, allowed the O's striker to make it 2-0 from the spot in the 28th minute.
Palmer forced Glenn Morris to make a rare save, while Hawkes stood up well to deny Jake Argent before Charlie Stimson made the visitors best chance of the half. The young forward headed James Brown's left-wing cross towards the near corner, though Morris was well-placed to make the save.
Further chances went begging for the hosts as Hawkes performed heroics to keep the scores respectable at the break.
HT 0-2
Two minutes after the interval, that man Patulea caused further trouble for the Gills back four He cut in on the left side of goal before finishing inches wide of the far post with a cheeky slice across goal.
The Romanian was through on goal again on 57 minutes after a well-timed pass from Pires but this time Patulea thundered his strike into the seating behind the goal.
Soon after, Connor Essam had a chance to reduce the deficit when Yussuff's corner was only cleared as far as James Brown. The youngster fired over a curling cross that missed the head of Essam by a fraction, the slightest touch would surely have diverted it into the goal.
Gillingham began to spray the ball around with confidence in the second half and enjoyed plenty of possession. But they still struggled to make an impact in front of goal, long range efforts being their only real outlet, notably for Walker and Yussuff who both blazed wide.
The visitors were nearly caught on the break as Cumbers lost control allowing Orient to send Harry Baker through one-on-one, the O's midfielder hared into the box but pulled the trigger too soon, firing harmlessly into the stand.
As play became stretched and legs tired in the heat, James Walker was unlucky with a low deflected effort that Morris scrambled to push behind for a corner. Yussuff also went close soon after, with a curling free-kick that the O's keeper held after making up ground at his near post.
In the final moments Luis Cumbers raced into the box but could not stretch far enough to meet his through ball. Play quickly switched to the other end where Loick Pires waltzed through three challenges before slotting the O's third into the far corner.
Gillingham: Daran Hawkes, Chris Palmer (Ryan Benniman 62), James Brown, Connor Essam, Callum Davies, Luis Cumbers, Stuart Lewis, Alex Brown (Sam Fisher 75), James Walker, Charlie Stimson (Andy Pugh 62), Rashid Yussuff.
Subs not used: Tom Brunt.
Leyton Orient: Glenn Morris, Josh Millwood, Andrew Cave-Brown, Joseph Boakye, Jacob Rowe, Luke Ashworth (Elliott Babbs 61), Harry Baker, Harry Beautyman, Adrian Patulea (Louis Crowther 71), Jake Argent (Musa Manneh 77), Loick Pires.
Subs not used: Jack Giddens, Ryan Nelson.
