Gillingham Youth Team had the privilege of starting their season on the senior pitch at Brisbane Road for Saturday's visit to Leyton Orient. Things started brightly with the Gills looking sharp and confident and moving the ball around well. In the first half hour they created numerous chances to score, with six clear cut openings, as the home side were pushed on to the back foot.

Sadly for the youngsters it came back to haunt them when a clearance by Goalkeeper Conor Quinn hit an Orient forward leaving the home side with a simple tap in to take a lead at half time.

Gillingham started the second half in the same vein creating three great chances, but at the other end poor defending left the home side with a free header to make it 2-0. Just after the hour mark Luke Rooney pulled one back, lashing in from 18 yards after combining with Josh Sargeant on a free kick.  Ironically according to Manager Mark Patterson it was one of the Gills hardest chances of the match.

A minute later it was 3-1 as the home side sent forward a long ball, the Gills defence failed to clear and Orients winger fired into the top corner. Gillingham responded well, pulling the game back to 3-2 in the 80th minute, as Callum Day headed home a deep cross to the far post.

Gillingham pressed hard in the closing stages but could not find an equaliser. Afterwards Mark Patterson singled out Josh Sargeant for his outstanding performance and also had praise for Olly Bartrum, Luke Rooney and Jack Payne. Overall Mark was pleased with the performance but disappointed that the Gills took nothing from a game that they could have won.

Gillingham Team: Conor Quinn, Ellis Munday, Oliver Bartrum, Rimmel Daniel, Liam Wybraniec, Adam Burchell (65 Liam Geering), Luke Rooney, Jack Payne, Josh Sargeant, Tom Murphy (60 Callum Day), Jacob Arnold-Smith (75 Charlie Stimson)

Subs Not Used: Connor Essam, Dean Rance