The young Gills fought out an entertaining encounter that deservedly ended all-square at a drizzly Beechings Cross on Saturday morning, writes Richard Day.
Mark Patterson's side had to overcome the loss of right-back Ollie Bartrum, who was stretchered off before the break and eventually taken to hospital by ambulance, after he'd landed awkwardly following a header.
Maybe it came as no surprise that the game ended all square, the same as the previous months cup tie, because Andy Edwards O's still await their first league victory having drawn six out of their seven games thus far.
The Gills started brightly and Dean Rance went close to putting his team in front in the second minute but his lob was clawed to safety by the huge figure of Daniel Bygrave in the visitors goal.
A number of neat planned set-plays, in particular from well placed Liam Geering corners, caused the East Londoners problems, with Callum Day and Connor Essam going close.
It was in the 25th minute that the Gills took the lead. Rance played a great ball forward for Tom Murphy to run onto and the young striker smacked home a low shot from the edge of the area.
Shortly afterwards another neatly worked free-kick saw Murphy drill a low effort that forced another save from the diving Bygrave.
The O's had hardly got going in a forward sense but showed what they were capable of when Jake Argent's snap-shot beat Conor Quinn but struck the post.
In the 44th minute the home side had a great chance to go two-up when Rance was bundled over in the box and there were few complaints when referee Neil Baker, who handled the game sensibly, pointed to the spot. Rance himself took the spot-kick but the Orient keeper guessed correctly and saved diving to his left.
After the break the visitors created more with skipper Argent working tirelessly. His free-kick forced Quinn into a low save and was then just inches away from stabbing home Musa Manneh's cross after Geering had lost possession of Quinn's throw out.
Quinn was made to pay for a rash 69th minute challenge after rushing out of the area in an attempt to clear. Not only did he pick up a yellow card but when Michael Richardson pulled the resultant free-kick back, Joe Boakye smashed the ball home.
Both sides went looking for the winner but it was Gillingham who created the better chances and with a little more luck could have won it. Rance was unlucky when he ran onto a ball into the area and beat the keeper with a near post shot which unfortuanately struck the base of a post.
The midfielder then dived full length to head Essam's cross off target while Josh Sargeant, who put in a workmanlike performance on his return to the team, fired inches over.
Gills: Quinn, Bartrum (Benniman 43), Evans, Brunt, Essam, Davies, Geering, Rance, Murphy (Stimson 70), Day (Humber 70), Sargeant. Unused subs: Hawkes, Brown (J)
