Gillingham’s miserable week on the pitch hit another low at Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium as home striker Isaac Hutchinson helped himself to a hat-trick as the home romped to a 4-1 win. 

After Tuesday’s hammering at the hands of Portsmouth in the Football League Trophy, interim manager Keith Millen would have hoped that his charges would respond. But after the manager himself was sent to the stands following an incident where the official felt that he had delayed the restart from a throw in they slipped to another heavy defeat. 

Not even Macauley Bonne’s goal on the hour could save the Gills and it was very long trip home for the 600 who had made the trip to the Midlands. 

It was a quiet start as both sides created little – Bonne went close a couple of times for the Gills whilst at the other end Hutchinson shot wide in the home sides best effort. 

Millen then got involved as the home side tried to take a quick throw and in the eyes of referee Charles Breakspear, he delayed the taking of a throw and the Gills Interim boss was sent to the stands. 

Five minutes later, Hutchinson beat Jake Turner from the edge of the box and the writing started to appear on the wall for the visitors. Six minutes later, Hutchinson turned provider as he found Freddie Draper who buried Walsall’s second. 

The Gills were unfortunate not to get a goal back before the break as home keeper Owen Evans pulled off a remarkable reflex save following a mad scramble in his goal mouth, before the keeper pulled off a second really good save to keep out Ethan Coleman’s follow-up. 

Hutchinson made it three-nil just before the hour as he was given far, far too much room in the Gills box as he beat Turner low to the keepers near post. 

There was finally something for the travellers to cheer just after the hour as Jayden Clarke found Conor Mahoney and his low shot was well saved by Evans, but Bonne was the quickest to react and hammered the ball home. 

Draper thought he had added the fourth on 77 minutes as he lifted the ball over Turner only for it to bounce to safety off the crossbar. The Gills were still in the game and went searching for a lifeline and a second with Shad Ogie’s brilliant low shot being magnificently saved by Evans low to his left. 

Hutchinson was to complete his personal treble six minutes from time as Ross Tierney played him through and he gave Turner no chance and duly celebrated a job well done for the home side. 

Gillingham now do not play for seven days, and the Priestfield faithful will wonder just who will be in the managers hot-seat come Notts County’s visit to home base next weekend. 

WALSALL – Evans, Riley, Williams, Daniels, Allen, Knowles (Comley), McEntee, Stirk, Hutchinson, Tierney, Draper (Matt) 

Subs – Smith, James-Taylor, Foulkes, Johnson, Griffiths 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, McKenzie (Ehmer), Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Shaun Williams (Clarke), Jefferies, Coleman, Mahoney (Jonny Williams), Bonne, Nichols (Lapslie) 

Sub – Morris, Orji, Chambers 

REFEREE – Mr Breakspear 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC