by Luke Cawdell

Andy Hessenthaler was a proud man after his Gillingham team dumped League 1 Leyton Orient out of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Curtis Weston’s goal was enough to put the Gills into round three of the FA Cup for the third time in four seasons.

“I am proud of the players who were exceptional,” said the Gills boss (pictured after the final whistle).

“I was really pleased with the performance from start to finish. They gave me desire and passion and everything that goes with the game of football. I can’t ask any more of them.

“I was also proud of the fans and there were 1,400 in the ground. I am really pleased that the players put on a performance for them.”

The Gills were hanging on at the end and saw Orient’s Lee Cook crash a shot off the bar in the final minute of the game.

“When it popped to him we thought that’s it,” said Hessenthaler. “We had worked so hard and dug in and thought it had been taken away from us, but we earned that luck at the end because of our performance.”

Gillingham did have their own chances to extend the lead, particularly when Danny Kedwell was handed a golden chance by the home keeper.

Hessenthaler said: “I am a little disappointed that we didn’t put them to bed in the second half.

“We had quite a few good opportunities. Keds had a chance where he said the ball was spinning a bit. Curtis put one over the bar.

“We rode our luck a bit at the end when their player hit the bar, but I think the best team won the game.”

The Gills will now be in the hat for the third round on Sunday afternoon. Hessenthaler will be hoping his side face Manchester United.

He said: “I have never been to Manchester United and on a personal level it would be nice to go to Old Trafford and to pit my wits against the best manager in the world in Sir Alex Ferguson - and it would be great for our players.”

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