Gillingham slipped to their third successive defeat and 20th place in League One, as title chasing Sunderland came from behind at Priestfield to stay a point behind the division’s top two as an old boy returned to deny the home faithful.
It really was an afternoon of frustration all round for Steve Evans’ side – there was a dispute over who would take the first half penalty that put the Gills ahead; there was a fly by protest against Chairman Paul Scally, and then there was the comeback that condemned Gillingham to defeat – although yet again, luck deserted the home side as they could easily have snatched a deserved point before slipping to their sixth League defeat of the season.
The Gills starting eleven produced surprises as Ryan Jackson and Mustapha Carayol unexpectedly returned from injury, whilst Jack Tucker was pushed into a midfield holding position with Rhys Bennett partnering Max Ehmer at the heart of the defence.
Unlike at Wycombe seven days before, the Gills started on the front foot, and it was Tucker who tested Sunderland keeper Ron-Thorben Hoffman with a seventh minute shot which the keeper did well to keep out.
Gillingham enjoyed more of the play and deservedly took the lead after twenty-five minutes – albeit in bizarre circumstances. Stuart O’Keefe was flattened in the box by Luke O’Nien and as referee Swabey pointed to the spot, an expectant Priestfield waited for Vadaine Oliver’s possible redemption for blazing a spot kick high over Wycombe’s bar last time out. For Oliver there was to be no happy “ending” as Danny Lloyd didn’t “allow” the big striker to take the kick, and duly sent Hoffman the wrong way from the penalty.
Just as it looked like Gills would be ahead at the break, Sunderland got an equaliser that they barely deserved in first half stoppage time as Dan Neil’s ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Aiden O’Brien prodded the ball past Jamie Cumming.
Ten minutes into the second half, an old friend was to break Gillingham hearts. Tom Flanagan played a part in Martin Allen’s League Two Championship winning side nine years ago and was on hand to head Alex Prichard’s cross into the net in front of the travelling supporters to give them the lead – in less than ten playing minutes, the Black Cats had turned the game on its head!
Gillingham’s cause was helped going into the final quarter by the sending off of Eliot Emberton for what can best be called a reckless challenge on Tucker – Mr Swabey had no hesitation in showing the Sunderland defender a straight red card.
The Gills threw everything at Hoffman’s goal in the closing stages in search of the point that the performance definitely merited but couldn’t find a way through – sub-John Akinde was denied by a terrific block whilst for the second home game running Robbie McKenzie was denied late on by the visiting keeper as Hoffman somehow clawed out the defender’s looping header from a late corner. Deep into stoppage time, Oliver went even closer as his header from Jackson’s cross hit the bar – it really wasn’t Gillingham’s day!
Thing is that on Tuesday, the boss must rally his troops for the visit of Doncaster to Priestfield and Rovers will come to Kent rock bottom of the division as one of the four teams below Gillingham in the table for what has become a massive evening for both clubs…
GILLINGHAM: Cumming, Jackson, McKenzie. Ehmer (Sithole 91), Bennett (Kelman 81), McKenzie, Tucker, O’Keefe, Dempsey, Carayol (Akinde 61), Lloyd, Oliver.
Subs not used – Chapman, Adshead, Lee, Reeves.
Goal: Lloyd (pen 24).
Booked: Kelman (93).
SUNDERLAND: Hoffmann, Flanagan, Doyle, Embleton, O’Brien (Harris 90), O’Nien, Stewart, Winchester, Cirkin, Pritchard (Wright 71), Neil.
Subs not used – Burge, Younger, Hume, Sohna, Wearne.
Goals: O’Brien (45+3), Flanagan (54).
Booked: Cirkin (43), Stewart (84).
Sent Off: Embleton (67).
REFEREE – Mr Lee Swabey
Attendance: 6,310 (1969 Sunderland).