Gillingham’s search for a League 2 away win continues after leaders Leyton Orient scored twice in the second half to take maximum points at Brisbane Road on Tuesday night.

The visitors had impressed during a goalless first half but they couldn’t repeat that display as the gulf between the promotion contenders and Gills was clear to see after the break.

Gillingham made three changes from the weekend draw against Barrow, with captain Stuart O’Keefe, Lewis Walker and Jordan Green all coming into the starting XI. Mikael Mandron, Alex MacDonald and Scott Kashket were the trio dropping out.

There was much debate around how Gills would line up but it was a back four with Cheye Alexander at left-back. Ahead of that, Hakeeb Adelakun and Jordan Green dropped back into midfield when Gills were without the ball to mark the home side’s two holding midfielders and it prevented Orient getting any flow to their game. For 45 minutes, it worked perfectly.

Theo Archibald, whose double at Carlisle on Saturday fired Orient back to the top of League 2, sent a speculative early shot wide of the upright from an angle but thereafter the hosts were largely devoid of ideas.

It was Gills who fashioned the clearest openings of the half. The impressive Green fed O’Keefe but he took too long to get his shot away and it ended up being a cross which was blocked by the covering Dan Happe.

Walker had a physical battle with Orient centre-back Omar Beckles, the pair were spoken to by referee Charles Breakspear throughout the first half but it was good to see the rookie Gills striker giving as good as he got. He showed strength to hold off Tom James from Will Wright’s long ball forward but then fired over from 20 yards when he needed to show more composure.

Orient weren’t finding it easy, though. Paul Smyth prodded harmlessly wide from the edge of the area and Jayden Wareham could only shoot into the side netting under pressure.

Gills again looked a threat at set pieces. A Wright free-kick was headed back across goal by Elkan Baggott but Walker was unable to get a touch on the stretch as the keeper claimed, before Green shot high and wide after Orient only cleared a Wright free-kick to the edge of the area.

Orient fashioned their best opening five minutes into the second half when Max Ehmer made a mess of clearing a near-post left-wing cross and Aaron Drinan wastefully nodded over from eight yards.

It mattered little as they took the lead on 52 minutes when Smyth made a jinking run into the penalty area and his low right-foot shot had too much power for keeper Glenn Morris at his near post.

Walker hurried a shot wide from 20 yards when more composure was needed but at least the forward was showing attacking intent as Gills struggled at times.

Gills made a double change and were lining up another two substitutes when Orient made the game safe by scoring a second goal with 17 minutes left.

Dangerman Archibald crossed from the right and when Baggott fluffed his clearance, substitute Ruel Sotiriou volleyed home from close range.

Both sides used all five available changes - former Gills loan striker Charlie Kelman among those introduced by Orient - and many visiting supporters departed before the final whistle as the Gills never looked like getting back into the contest.

Leyton Orient: Vigouroux, James (Clay 82mins), Happe, Smyth (Duke-McKenna 82mins), Archibald (Kelman 82mins), Brown (El Mizouni 69mins), Wareham (Sotiriou 63mins), Drinan, Pratley, Beckles, Hunt. Subs not used: Sargeant, Ogie.

Gillingham: Morris, Alexander (Law 67mins), Wright (Mnoga 81mins), Ehmer, O’Keefe (Kashket 67mins), McKenzie, Jefferies, Walker (Mandron 74mins), Adelakun, Green (MacDonald 74mins), Baggott. Subs not used: Turner, Chambers.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Attendance: 7,099 (936 away).