Complacent Gills forced to settle for point

By Jack Nolan
September 27 2006

A pathetic final quarter of an hour by the Gills cost them a vital three points after a Leyton Orient fightback led by hat-trick hero Adam Lockwood. Goals from Mark Bentley, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu and Matty Jarvis did put the Gills three up with half and hour left.

Match Report
Leyton Orient.3.3.Gillingham FC
Brisbane Road
26/09/06

Gillingham sent their fans frustrated after seeing them take a three goal lead only to throw it away late on.

Despite the Gills dominating the majority of the game, they still could use their possesion wisely. For most of the game the Gills had 70 % of the possesion but didn't do enough with it.

The Gills did manage to take the lead though when the Gills took a short corner to Danny Jackman whose cross was found by the unmarked Mark Bentley to head home for one nothing.

The Gills then doubled their advantage two minutes later when Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu fired home from twelve yards just on the stroke of half time.

The Gills went in happy at half time and looked on course for their second away victory and looked even more likely to go home with all three points when Matty Jarvis who has been linked with a host of Premiership clubs this week put the Gills three up away from home. Jarvis scored his fourth of the season after latching onto Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu's pass to fire home from twelve yards.

But fifteen minutes from time Scott Flinders gave away a pointless penalty, and recieved his third yellow card in two weeks. Adam Lockwood stepped up to take the penalty and power drived it into the bottom right hand of the corner.

Lockwood then gave Orient a real lifeline when he scored once again. Lockwoods long range shot took several deflections before going past Flinder in the Gills goal to set up a tense finale.

Lockwood thern completed his hat-trick when Lockwood was given acre's of space on the left before slotting past Flinders to equalise for the poor Orient side.

So the Gills somehow managed to conceed three late goals to a very poor Leyton Orient side, despite having 70% of the possesion.

Ronnie's Rection

"The defending for three goals was scandalous really, we could have been 4 or 5 up, played some good stuff and created numerous chances, the one Juppy's slid across and nobody made a bid for could have been four. We gave away a penalty to let them back into the game but you've got to be able to see that out at 3-1 with 10 minutes to go.

"The last 15 minutes we had to be a lot stronger than that because up until then we were cruising and maybe could have gone 4 or 5 up at times, then we go to sleep with a through ball, the 'keeper's made a decision, but with 10 minutes to go, even at 3-1 you should be able to see games out at this level not a problem. But then we went into shells, we started defending on our 18 yard box and even deeper, and you just invite trouble there, you get balls bouncing around and people not knowing whether to stick or twist, and that was the case there," said the angry Jepson.

"Guylain and Jarvis did well together, they created havoc up there, their movement was good and they let other people get into spaces and we created the chances. Matty drifting into little pockets here and there, and we got people into the box.

"I've just been in the changerooms there and told a few home truths, and I'll tell a few more tomorrow morning, when you're up against it sometimes you've got to keep doing what you're doing, what got you there in the first place instead of backing off.

"It would have been nice to see one or two more leaders out on that park tonight."

Gillingham will hope to bounce back after the shocking late show against a shockingly poor side. The Gills face Cheltenham Town at Priestfield on Saturday.