Promotion to League One was secured for Leyton Orient on Tuesday night after an eventful defeat at Gillingham.
The O’s have led the way in League Two all season under Richie Wellens and didn’t even need a point at the Priestfield Stadium to seal a return to the third tier of English football for the first time since 2015.
Omar Beckles was sent off for a last-man foul in the 14th minute before Alex MacDonald put the hosts ahead with the resultant free-kick.
Idris El Mizouni’s handball gave Gillingham a chance to make it two from the spot late in the second half, which Cheye Alexander duly converted.
🍾 THE O’S ARE GOING UP!!
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) April 18, 2023
Through all of the pain, all of the grief, and all of the doubts.
Through all of the joy, all of the passion, and all of the faith.
We. Are. Back.#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/tUHWC4rdeK
But the action off the pitch came to define Orient’s evening as the floodlights failed at the Priestfield, just as rivals Bradford conceded to Swindon - creating the scenario for promotion despite their own scoreline.
With the players taken off, play eventually resumed with the visitors knowing their fate was sealed and they calmly played out the remaining minutes before the celebrations could begin.
After some difficult years and dropping out of the EFL entirely in 2017, Orient have been on the up since being taken over by Nigel Travis and Kent Teague six years ago.
The east London club and are seven points clear at the top of League Two with four games left and can ensure they go up as champions when they host Crewe on Saturday - if results go their way.
