Gillingham’s Salop jinx reared its’ head yet again on Saturday as Steve Evans side slipped to an ugly defeat that saw Shrewsbury Town climb off the foot of the fledgling League One table.

The Gills record away to the Shrews is one of their worst currently and this defeat means that Gillingham’s faithful have returned victorious from this fixture just once in the twenty-first century – a run that now extends to just a solitary win (in August 2016) in ten matches…

After Jack Tucker had given Steve Evans taped up and battered side the early lead, the visitors allowed the home side to score their first league goals of the season as the game descended into farce as there were “disappointing” scenes on the respective dug-outs at the final whistle as referee Allison brandished four red cards – two for the home side and one each for Danny Phillips and assistant boss Paul Raynor, who had been knocked to the floor by Shrewsbury’s reserve keeper Henry Burgoyne who leapt from his seat on the home bench in truly bewildering scenes.

After a fairly even opening where both sides had half chances, the Gills went in front on twelve minutes when Tucker superbly headed home a Kyle Dempsey corner – the young central defender powering in a header that the home keeper couldn’t deal with

The home side tried to respond and Steve Cotterill’s side came close as Luke Leahy’s effort was well saved by Jamie Cumming before Rhys Bennett was denied a first Gills goal by a great save from Shrews keeper Mario Marosi.

The Gills continued to have opportunities as Ryan Jackson and Phillips both had chances before the break but there was a setback for the visitors on the stroke of half time when Jackson had to be replaced by David Tutonda.

Whatever was said in the home dressing room seemed to work as a different Shrewsbury side came out after the break. Bloxham levelled spectacularly on fifty-eight minutes with the home sides first League goal of the season – firing an acrobatic overhead kick into Cumming’s net – before just ten minutes later the home side were in front as Cosgrove buried the ball beyond a rooted Cumming and into the bottom corner.

Daniel Udoh’s header nearly made it 3-1 before Ben Reeves was well denied by Marosi at the base of his post.

As time elapsed, Cumming did well to keep out sub Ogbeta at his near post before the game erupted into the explosive finale. Phillips clashed with David Davis after the two ended up on the floor after a challenge, but as both had already been cautioned by the official, both were sent to the stands. But what followed almost beggared belief as sub keeper Burgoyne left his place on the bench and started “throwing punches” at the Gills assistant boss as both benches had to be separated. What was said to spark such a reaction off the field is something that will possibly never be known, but the pictures of a player effectively assaulting a member of the opposition coaching team sadly will reflect very poorly on the game as a whole.

SHREWSBURY TOWN – Marosi, Bennett, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre, Nurse (Ogbeta), Luke Leahy, Davis, Vela, Bloxham (Bowman), Udoh, Cosgrove (Pyke)

Subs – Burgoyne, Whalley, Daniels, Leshabela

GILLINGHAM – Cumming, Jackson (Tutonda), Ehmer, Tucker, Bennett (Lloyd), McKenzie, Adshead (Reeves), Phillips, Dempsey, Carayol, Oliver

Subs – Chapman, Akehurst, Lee, O’Keefe

REFEREE – Mr Allison

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.