Leyton Orient A Gillingham A - Abandoned after 83 minutes due to serious injury

Leyton Orient’s friendly with Gillingham was abandoned in the 83rd minute after Lee Martin suffered a suspected broken ankle at Brisbane Road.

First half goals from Jordan Bowery and Jay Simpson put Andy Hessenthaler’s men two up at the break.

With 16 minutes remaining, former Manchester United winger Martin landed awkwardly and after receiving treatment, it was decided the match would be abandoned.

Orient were without several first teamers for the visit of League One outfit Gillingham at Brisbane Road.

Captain Robbie Weir, Liam Kelly, Sean Clohessy and Callum Kennedy were among numerous squad members to be unavailable.

Alex Cisak was between the sticks for O’s with Yvan Erichot and Tom Parkes together at the heart of defence.

Myles Judd was given another opportunity at right-back while Sandro Semedo started at left-back.

Nigel Atangana led Orient out and partnered Sammy Moore in midfield with Gavin Massey on the right.

Harry Cornick, after signing on loan from AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday, started out on the left.

Simpson and Bowery were up front together while the visitors had some familiar names in their team.

Ex-O’s midfielder Josh Wright captained the Gills while Jake Hessenthaler, the son of the east Londoners managed, was involved for the Kent side.

It only took the hosts five minutes to create the first opening when Atangana drove forward from midfield.

He passed into Bowery’s path and his effort from outside the box flew past wide of Stuart Nelson’s goal.

Cornick let fly moments later but couldn’t hit the target before Gillingham began to control proceedings.

Charlie McDonald tested Cisak with quarter of an hour played before the O’s goalkeeper made an outstanding save six minutes later.

Wright’s curling effort looked destined for the corner, but the Aussie stopper got up to tip over the crossbar.

Cisak saved from McDonald again two minutes later as the League One outfit pushed for the breakthrough.

Gillingham very nearly opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Orient failed to defend a corner properly.

Eventually the ball was worked out to Joe Quigley, just eight-yards out, and Cisak got down brilliantly to tip his shot wide.

Jake Hessenthaler nearly made his Dad unhappy two minutes later when his effort was blocked by Orient’s goalkeeper.

The east Londoners had done well to weather the storm and in the 32nd minute they took the lead themselves.

Massey did well to hold off the challenge of ex-West Ham United defender Paul Konchesky and run into the box.

After getting into the area, the former Colchester United winger cut the ball back for Bowery and he drove into the corner.

Orient took a lot of confidence from the opener and were handed a great chance to double their lead two minutes before half time.

Atangana drove at the away defence before passing into Cornick and Ryan Jackson bundled him over in the box.

Simpson stepped up and sent Nelson the wrong way to put the O’s two up at the interval at Brisbane Road.

Mark Byrne nearly reduced the arrears for Gillingham after 10 minutes of the second period before Dean Cox was introduced for Gavin Massey.

Sam Sargeant took Cisak’s place before Ollie Palmer and Armand Gnanduillet were brought on for Simpson and Bowery.

Two substitutes nearly combined for the third with quarter of an hour remaining when Cox crossed in for Palmer, but he headed hit the post and rebounded to safety.

Josh Koroma and Steven Alzate were preparing to come on afterwards when Sargeant saved Martin’s low effort.

Unfortunately the Gillingham wide man, who was introduced at half time, landed awkwardly and appeared to break his ankle.

He was treated just off the pitch by the side of Sargeant’s goal and after a seven-minute delay it was announced by Orient’s commercial manager Steve Dixon that the game had been abandoned.

Referee Craig Hicks spoke to both Andy Hessenthaler and Justin Edinburgh before making the decision.

It was a disappointing way for O’s final pre-season match at Brisbane Road to end, but hopefully Martin’s injury isn’t too serious.

Leyton Orient: Cisak (Sargeant 66), Judd, Erichot, Parkes, Semedo, Massey (Cox 62), Moore, Atangana, Cornick, Bowery (Palmer 72), Simpson (Gnanduillet 72).

Unused substitutes: Alzate, Doherty, Koroma.

Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson, Oshilaja (Osadebe 46), Ehmer, Konchesky, Wright, Hessenthaker (Knott 61), Byrne, Dack (Martin 46), McDonald, Quigley (Donnelly 61).

Unused substitutes: Hadler, Oldaker, List, Cundle.

Attendance: 706 (147 Gillingham supporters).