Gillingham slumped to another frustrating Priestfield defeat against one of the promotion chasers of League One.
The only side remember to beat leaders Portsmouth this season, Luton Town’s 3-1 win at Priestfield on the last Saturday of November followed an increasingly frustrating pattern for Steve Lovell’s side against the Division’s top sides.
By adding the Hatters to the list of those to leave Kent with all the points which already included Sunderland and Peterborough United, you also leave Lovell shaking his head asking what might had been…
Yes of the games mentioned, Luton’s performance was arguably the most complete as they raced into a 3-0 lead after 68 minutes as the home side looked a little leggy after the midweek exploits at Hartlepool in the FA Cup, before Tom Eaves blasted home from the angle his 13th of the season to give the home side hope – hope that perhaps could have been helped by referee Johnson had he seen Bradley’s handball or considered that Elliott List had been taken out by a defender late on, rather than giving the Gills a corner which had Max Ehmer appealing against another man handling “offence”, it could have been better for the Gills.
But that would have been tough on the visitors, who despite the Gills laying siege for the final quarter, held out without keeper Shea really being tested.
Luton continued their march up the table – taking their points tally to 21 out of 27 – but were fortunate on the quarter hour that Eaves didn’t have his shooting boots on as he blazed wide.
Luton were ahead after 25 minutes when Shinnee beat Tomas Holy from the edge of the box with a low shot. The visitors thought they’d doubled their lead when Lee headed home at the back post, but only because the Luton man had left Barry Fuller in an illegal heap on the floor.
Five minutes from half time, Eaves got on the end of long free kick, but Elliott List (one of three changes to the starting eleven at Hartlepool) just couldn’t get his shot off and the chance was gone!
Luton doubled their lead ten minutes after the break as the Gills conceded another goal that would have had Lovell screaming inside as Collins’ centre wasn’t cleared and Lee crashed in the chance via the underside of the bar.
If that goal was bad enough for Lovell, Luton’s third goal was simply unforgiveable! Gills had a free-kick on the edge of the Luton box which was cleared to Cornick who ran and ran and ran without challenge, three quarters the length of the pitch, leaving blue shirts in his wake, before shooting against a post allowing Lee to smash home the gift.
A triple Gills change helped and within four minutes, Eaves was on the scoresheet from the angle.
The goal sparked a recovery by the Gills, but try as they might, they couldn’t find the crucial second!
Luke O’Neil saw a free kick safely gathered by Shea, before the first penalty claim which followed a cross from sub Bradley Garmston. Another substitute, Darren Oldaker, shot wide before List was unlucky when a ball wouldn’t come down and the shot disappeared into the Rainham End.
The Gills then are now just one point and two places outside of the bottom four and face a huge midweek as they travel to face the side occupying that last place in the League table – Bristol Rovers.
Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Zakuani, Ehmer, Fuller; Parrett (Oldaker 61), Bingham (Garmston 63), Byrne, Rees (Parker 61); Eaves, List.
Subs not used: Hadler (GK), Ogilvie, Reilly, Mbo.
Goal: Eaves (72).
Booked: Eaves (66), Ehmer (95).
Luton Town line up: Shea, Justin, Bradley, Pearson, Stacey; Rea, Mpanzu, Shinnie (Sheehan 69), Cornick (Jarvis 84); Collins, Lee (Jones 90).
Subs not used: Stech (GK), Potts, McCormack, Grant.
Goals: Shinnie (25), Lee (55), (68).
Booked: Rea (35), Bradley (58).
Referee: Mr Kevin Johnson
Attendance: 5,671 (1,282 Luton).
Picture supplied by Kent Pro Images.