Tom Eaves bagged a hat-trick to help Gillingham secure a 3-3 draw at home to Southend United.

Eaves netted twice at the start of the second half before scoring his third goal 10 minutes from time to ensure Gills claimed their first home point of the Sky Bet League One season.

The Shrimpers took the lead in the 20th minute when Ryan Leonard hooked the ball home after Tomas Holy had dropped a cross from Jermaine McGlashan.

Gills hit back, though, with Eaves heading home Mark Byrne’s cross in the 56th minute before he also nodded home a cross from Connor Ogilvie in the 63rd minute to put the home side in front.

Southend equalised just two minutes later with Michael Kightly volleying home before Phil Brown’s side regained the lead in the 73rd minute when Simon Cox bundled the ball home after Theo Robinson’s shot had hit the bar.

But Robinson then brought Byrne down in the box, enabling Eaves to complete his hat-trick as he fired home after initially having his penalty saved by Mark Oxley.

The point doesn’t prevent The Gills from dropping into the bottom four in the league with the two teams to meet once again at Priestfield on Tuesday night for the EFL Trophy clash.

Ady Pennock’s side then entertain Shrewsbury Town in the league next Saturday.

 

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Lacey, Zakuani (Nugent 69), Ehmer (Parker 42), Ogilvie, Byrne, Bingham, Martin, Nash (Cundle 74), Eaves.

Subs not used: Arnold, Hessenthaler, Oldaker, Wagstaff.

Goals: Eaves (56), (63) & (80).

Booked: Byrne (51), Ogilvie (89), Eaves (93).

Southend United line up: Oxley, Demetriou, White, Ferdinand, Hendrie, Timlin, Kightly, McGlashan, Leonard, Cox, Fortune (Robinson 62).

Subs not used: Kyprianou, Smith, McLaughlin, Yearwood, Bridge, Ba.

Goals: Leonard (20), Kightly (65), Cox (73).

Booked: Timlin (11), Demetriou (58), Hendrie (87).

Referee: Mr Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 5,339 (1,027 Southend)