Two goals down with thirteen minutes remaining, Gillingham earned their third win in the last four games with three Josh Wright penalties in a remarkable nine-minute spell to completely turn this SkyBet League One match on its head.

For manager Ade Pennock, who had been struggling with illness this week, the emotions were almost too hard to express at the end of the game.  He admitted “it was phenomenal, and pretty special.  We started the game really slowly and I was disappointed with the goal we conceded because we didn’t track the runners.  Then we’ve gone two down and I was thinking they thoroughly deserved it, but we showed the character that we’ve got here.”

“It was one of those games that seemed to have everything.  We know Scunthorpe are going through a sticky patch, but I’ve said to Graham (Alexander) we know they are a good side and that they’ll be pushing for promotion.”

Scunthorpe had won 5-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but went into the game on an 8 match winless run that had seen them slip from the automatic promotion places.  Pennock added that he “said at half time that if we did score, their confidence could dip a bit and we had to hold out against the chances they were creating.  Nels (Stuart Nelson) saved us four or five times in there, so I’m not going to be too critical about their second goal.  But I’m more pleased for the players as once again the character they’ve shown was fantastic.  They all deserve a pat on the back, but Josh will get the plaudits for his three goals.”

“I’d said that one goal could change it, but to get three penalties; I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game with three before, but a lot of credit goes to Josh Wright to take them.  I took one years ago (Pennock then turned to son Nathan to ask why he was laughing at that thought) and it was the only one I ever took, but Josh is flying at the moment.  I promise you I didn’t have any worries when he stepped up because he’s in good form and been practising them in training.  I just thought that to get a booking when you’ve scored a hatrick, in the atmosphere at that moment, was very harsh.”

Pennock, all of his management team, and all of the players went and celebrated with the Rainham End faithful at the end of the game, and received a standing ovation from three sides of the Priestfield stadium as they returned to the changing rooms.  His last words were for the supporters, saying “the atmosphere at the end really was phenomenal.  The whole stadium was rocking and that’s what we want.  It was a special day today, and I’m pleased that they were here to the end to see it.  They are very important to us, and everyone in the squad could feel the impact of the applause at the end.”

“We’ve got a big game on Tuesday now (home against Bolton Wanderers, who were 4-0 victors at the Macron Stadium), and that’s the first time I’ve had back-to-back wins, but I’m still looking for that clean sheet.  I want to be positive, so we’re going to enjoy the win tonight, but we have to turn up and put on a big performance.  We’re doing OK at the moment, but I’m under no illusions that there is still a long way to go. Survival is still what this is all about so we’ve got to get the points as quickly as possible.”