Two goals early in the second half gave Southend United only their first win at Priestfield since February 2012 and condemned Gillingham to another home League defeat in a game that they should have got something from.

That said, the blatant timewasting displayed by the visitors particularly as they defended their lead late on was a masterstroke as it completely knocked the home side out of their rhythm as the search for an equaliser became more and more desperate.

In the end two goals in a little over two and a half minutes from Simon Cox – the first into Tomas Holy’s bottom corner after a brilliant Southend passing move down the left and the second as he raced onto a ball down the channel before drilling the ball across the advancing keeper.

In truth it was an afternoon where the Gills were pleasing on the eye, but were so, so lacking that final ball and killer thrust, but it wasn’t through the trying of Tom Eaves who was a constant thorn for the visitors all afternoon with some powerful runs and after a close tense opening had the Gills first chance of any note – a fierce rising drive which keeper Oxley was happy to palm over.

Callum Reilly then crashed a drive the wrong side of Oxley’s right post as the Gills possession was finally being turned into chances.  In a swirling wind the visitors struggled to get anything going going forward with Max Ehmer and skipper Gabriel Zakuani mopping up most that the Shrimpers could throw at them.

But whatever Chris Powell said to his charges at the break worked as Cox drilled them in front on 50 minutes before racing clear beyond the Gills defence to net two in two minutes.

The Gills were shell shocked and manager Steve Lovell will have been disappointed that a couple of heads clearly dropped, but things got worse for the Gills when skipper Zakuani hobbled off after appearing to have pulled a muscle.

Mark Byrne was then denied by a save by Oxley.  It really wasn’t the Gills day, but the home side’s afternoon was summed up ten minutes from time.  Substitute Bradley Stevenson’s shot was deflected just wide of the post and from the corner Southend defender Bwomono took a wild swipe of the ball and it flew inches past the right post leaving the defender looking skywards!

The crowd got increasingly frustrated with the visitors and in particular Oxley’s time delaying antics – but not even seven additional minutes allowed by referee Busby was going to save the Gills on the day that they played the first game on the relayed Priestfield surface.

 

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Fuller, Ehmer, Zakuani (Wilkinson 68), Lacey (Stevenson 59), Byrne, Parrett, Reilly (Garmston 59), Eaves, List.

Subs not used: Oldaker, Rees, Hadler, Ogilvie.

Southend United line up: Oxley, Bwomono, Coker, Hendrie, Turner, Dieng, Cox, Yearwood (Lennon 89), Mantom, Moore, Robinson (McCoulsky 80).

Subs not used: Bishop, Kightly, McLaughlin, Klass, Hutchinson.

Referee: Mr John Busby.

Attendance: 5,584 (1,037 Southend)

Picture credit to Kent Pro Images.