Coca-Cola League One
Tuesday 12 September
Priestfield Stadium

GILLINGHAM 2 MILLWALL 1

Goals from Clint Easton and Matty Jarvis have given the Gills back to back wins in a heated clash against Millwall at Priestfield. 

While Easton's goal will go down as one of the best of the season, it was the end to the match which will be talked about just as vigorously.

Millwall sub Poul Hubertz gave his side a glimmer of hope when he pegged one back in the 88th minute, and when Darren Byfield suffered what appeared to be cramp in the Gills area deep into injury time, the controversy began to unravel.

Gills 'keeper Scott Flinders rolled the ball into touch to allow Byfield to receive treatment, but instead of throwing back to the 'keeper, Millwall pushed forward in search of an equaliser, only for Mr Olivier to rule a foul throw, then proceed to blow full time as soon as Clint Easton had thrown the ball back into play.

It was another bright start for the Gills, with Gary Mulligan getting in on the action after just two minutes, when a free kick in from Easton was neatly brought down by Mark Bentley and turned back in for Mulligan, who was unlucky to see his first up shot sail over the bar after a great turn.

The Priestfield faithful were given what they were after on 14 minutes, when, after a mix up in the Millwall defence, Matty Jarvis' corner bobbled around in the area and made its way back to Jarvis on the right, whose ball in was cleared only as far as Easton lurking 35 yards out, and his low trajectory thunderbolt left Chris Day with no chance as it nestled into the bottom right hand corner.

The Lions had a chance of their own minutes later as Zac Whitbread latched onto a corner but was unable to direct his header goalbound, while Chris Day was forced to bravely save soon after, taking Jarvis' header under pressure from Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu.

The bubbling tension spilled over on 22 minutes when Leon Johnson gave away a foul as the ball trickled toward Scott Flinders. Flinders took his time in handing the ball back to Darren Byfield and the ex-Gills man reacted, pushing Flinders and kick-starting a push-and-shove match, resulting in both being shown cards.

Millwall were lacklustre in front of goal and the frustration took its toll, with both Senda and Zebroski well off the mark as the first half drew to a close.

Just 16 seconds into the second half Michael Flynn had the chance to double the lead, as he shot at Day from 15 yards, while at the other end, Millwall continued to waste good chances.

Bakayogo had a great chance to test Flinders early in the half only to blaze wide from the edge of the area, while a good ball in from the left also failed to be met by the Lions strike force and trouble the Gills defence.

The advantage was doubled just after the hour as Ian Cox started a brilliant move from the edge of his own 18 yard box, unleashing Jarvis through the middle, who played a lovely one-two with Mark Bentley, to find himself one-on-one with Day, and calmly slot past the Lions 'keeper into the bottom left corner.

The Gills attacking raids were becoming more frequent, and Flynn was unlucky to miss the target after the goalscorers Easton and Jarvis combined to square back for the skipper.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and Gary Mulligan made way after working hard all night, and replacement Dean McDonald did well to set up Andrew Crofts on 87 minutes, only for his on target shot to be deflected by the Millwall defence.

The three points were momentarily threatened as Hubertz pulled one back, creating a tense final few minutes, but, controversy aside, the Gills registered another well earned three points. 

Gillingham: Flinders, Jupp, Cox, Mulligan (Spiller 86), Johnson, Easton, Bentley, Flynn, Crofts, Jarvis, Ndumbu-Nsungu (McDonald 78).
Subs Not Used - Clohessy, Pouton, Stone.

Millwall: Day, Elliott, Robinson, Whitbread (Ross 49), Dunne, Byfield, Senda, Zebroski (Hubertz 72), Shaw, Bakayogo (Williams 70), Fuseini.
Subs Not Used - Pidgley, Ardley.

Bookings: Flinders, Bentley (Gillingham)

Byfield, Zebroski, Shaw (Millwall)

Attendance: 7,134

Referee: Mr Ray Olivier (West Midlands)

Match report by Glen Lauder