After keeping a clean sheet for 90 minutes, Gillingham slipped to defeat in added time as Lee Barnard stole the points at Roots Hall.

Mark Stimson kept faith with the starting eleven that performed so impressively against Charlton last week with Oli and Jackson paired in an attacking 4-4-2 formation.

Both sides signalled their intent direct from the kick-off with first Bentley heading into keeper Mildenhall's hands after good approach play by Barcham, before Laurent tested Royce with a low drive from the right of goal that earned the first corner of the match.

The home side set out to seize the early initiative and went close through Barrett and Moussa. While Francis Laurent made another strong run into the box before firing a warning shot inches wide of Royce's near post.

Having weathered that early storm Gillingham were unfortunate not to nick the lead in the 10th minute as Mildenhall struggled to hold Barcham's cross but somehow contrived to deny Jackson's follow-up on the line.

In the 19th minute Laurent's cheeky back heel found Simon Francis in space, the full back unleashed a rocket from distance which Royce did well to push over the bar. Soon after the Gills found the net as Nutter scored with a low free-kick to the bottom corner but the goal was ruled out after Barcham was judged to have pushed the defensive wall.

As the game settled down the referee went into overdrive awarding a series of bizarre free kicks and handing dubious bookings to Matt Fry and Simon Francis. Meanwhile the two teams struggled to fashion a serious chance with Walker's drive from distance the best of the openings.

In added time the home side were unlucky with a goalmouth scramble from a corner which Royce managed to claw away to safety as the teams headed in all square at the break.

HT 0-0

For all their endeavour neither side could muster a shot on target for the first 15 minutes of the second half, then another curious refereeing decision presented the Gills with a golden opportunity.

Anthony Grant went to ground in the Southend area and shielded the ball from the visitors forwards. Referee Ward gave a direct free-kick from 12 yards but Mark Bentley only succeeded in breaking a bulb in the scoreboard with his vicious shot.

A rash of yellow cards followed for the Gills with Nutter, Gowling, Oli and Fuller all heading into the book in quick succession. From the latter foul Francis curling kick from the right found the head of Adam Barrett but the Shrimpers captain could only nod over the crossbar.

In the 83rd minute Gillingham were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after Simeon Jackson was bundled over en route to goal. Kevin Maher fired into the wall and Stuart Lewis could only blaze over from the rebound.

It looked as though the match was destined for a draw until the last minute of added time when a deep cross caught Royce in no man's land, McCormack headed back across goal and Barnard held up the ball before turning to fire home a last gasp winner.

Attendance: 7830 (877 Gillingham)

Gillingham: Simon Royce, Barry Fuller, Josh Gowling, Matt Fry, John Nutter (Chris Palmer 78), Mark Bentley, Curtis Weston, Stuart Lewis, Andy Barcham, Dennis Oli (Kevin Maher 71), Simeon Jackson

Subs not used: Alan Julian, Rashid Yussuff, Luke Rooney, Jack Payne.

Southend United: Steve Mildenhall, Simon Francis, Jean-Francois Christophe, Adam Barrett, Anthony Grant, Alan McCormack, Lee Barnard, James Walker, Franck Moussa, Johnny Herd, Francis Laurent.

Subs not used: Stuart O'Keefe, Ian Joyce, Kyle Asante, Callum Whittaker, Julian Okai.