Coca-Cola League One
Saturday 25th November 2006
Venue: Priestfield Stadium

GILLINGHAM 1 ROTHERHAM UNITED 0

Gary Mulligan has notched his third goal of the Coca-Cola League One campaign and fourth of the season, to hand the Gills a hard fought 1-0 win over Rotherham.

Gills manager Ronnie Jepson reverted to the more traditional 4-4-2 after experimenting with wing-backs in the 3-1 loss to Bristol City, and it was a more focussed Gillingham outfit on display early on, although it was the visitors who enjoyed the first chance of the match, as a poor clearance from Kelvin Jack fell for Will Hoskins, laying off for Delroy Facey to shoot just past the post.

Gary Mulligan had the Gills first opportunity on eight minutes, shooting just wide after latching on to a ball in from Andrew Crofts, and the Gills continued to attack, earning three straight corners, Mark Bentley heading into the side netting on the third occasion.

All the home side's hard work eventually paid off, when Matt Jarvis showed lightning pace down the left wing to beat David Worrell and take the ball to the byline, his cross in falling at the feet of Mulligan, who gratefully tapped home from three yards.

Worrell seemed to react badly to being upstaged by the speedy 20 year old, going into Mr Singh's book just a few minutes later for a rash challenge on Jarvis right on halfway.

Jarvis, was proving why he is such hot property at the moment, causing plenty of problems in the opening half, beating Ian Sharps on 28 minutes only to shoot wide, before forcing Neil Cutler into a save low down on 37 minutes after another lovely run.

The Gills were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief just after half time, as Martin Woods headed home after a cross in from the right, only to be adjudged to have fouled Kelvin Jack on the line, allowing the home side to maintain its one-goal advantage.

With a lead behind them the Gills continued to push forward, Andrew Crofts shooting wide on the hour, while three minutes later Dean McDonald shot at Cutler after doing well to bring down a high ball on the far left, before cutting back to the edge of the area.

Lady Luck again shone on the hosts, when, with just under 20 minutes remaining, Will Hoskins beat Jack one-on-one, his low shot somehow deflected over the bar by a desperate Ben Chorley, who was still wondering how he managed to keep the ball out, well after the match.

The ball was spending plenty of time in the Millers' half as the Gills continued searching for a second, and had some brilliant chances too, as a Gary Mulligan ball in from the left was inches from the boot of Mark Bentley who was unmarked on the back post, while McDonald shot agonisingly wide after a lovely link up with Jarvis, who remained dominant for the entire 90 minutes.

Andrew Crofts was unlucky to see a shot deflected for a corner on 80 minutes, and Cutler would have been relieved to clutch a Jarvis shot in his arms, after the Gills wide man chested down and shot first time at the Millers 'keeper.

Rotherham burst into life in the dying stages, creating several half chances, but it was not enough to stop the Gills from posting their fouth successive home win in convincing fashion.  

Gillingham: Jack, Jupp, Cox, Chorley, Easton, Bentley, Flynn, Crofts, Jarvis, Mulligan, McDonald (Savage 78).
Subs Not Used - Pouton, Johnson, Spiller, Jackman. 

Rotherham United: Cutler, Worrell, Hurst (Robertson 45), Mills, Sharps, Partridge (Hibbert 76), Cochrane (Newsham 86), Bopp, Woods, Facey, Hoskins.
Subs Not Used - Montgomery, Wiseman.

Bookings: Flynn, Mulligan (Gillingham)

Worrell (Rotherham)

Attendance: 6,201 (revised)

Referee: Mr Jarnail Singh (Middlesex)

Match report by Glen Lauder