Brave Gills lose out to table toppers

By Jack Nolan
February 25 2007

The ten men of Gillingham lost out to top of the table Scunthorpe on Saturday despite a good effort from Ronnie Jepson's squad. The Gills went down three-one with defender Ben Chorley seeing red when the scores were all square thanks to a Matt Jarvis tap in.

Scunthorpe UTD.3.1.Gillingham FC
Coca-Cola Football League One
24/02/2007

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Scunthorpe could well have taken the lead early on after Richard Hinds - who has scored against Gillingham in every game he has played against them since The Gills' relegation to League One. Hind's long range effort took a deflection only for it to be cleared off of the line.

The Gills came close to taking a shock lead however, when Nicky Southall picked out Gary Mulligan who saw his 12 yard effort well saved by Iron 'keeper Joe Murphy.

The Gills then had another chance to take the lead when winning the ball from a Scunthorpe attack, Mark Bentley ran on the counter atack who's cross from the wing just missed the feet of Dean McDonald.

Scunthorpe did take the lead however on 24 minutes when Lee Ridleys crossed for Hinds who headed home to continue his scoring streak against Gillingham.

With seconds left before the interval, The Gills had a glourious opportunity to equalise. Mark Bentley crossed for captain Mike Flynn who header went just wide of the post.

At half-time The Gills were one down but still looked as if they could yet get something out of the game, and that looked all the more likely ten minutes into the second half when The Gills equalised. Most of Gary Mulligans goals this season have been tap-ins from Matt Jarvis' low crosses, however this time round it was the reverse. Gary Mulligan low pass found the feet of Matt Jarvis who scored his first goal in 26 games - his sixth of the season.

But all of Gillinghams hard efforts were undone when Ben Chorley saw red for a foul on Jermaine Beckford. Then from the resulting free kick, The Iron took the lead from Dave Mulligans effort.

The Gills went on fighting however, and came close to equalising. Nicky Southall's third consecutive corner kick found the head of Andrew Crofts who's effort smashed against the crossbar.

But then the Iron put the result beyond doubt when Ian Morris slotted home in injury time. The game finished three-one to the Iron in a scoreline that probably flattered The Iron.

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Ronnie Jepson

"We got back into it with the equaliser, " said Jepson after the game, "and we were in the ascendancy - but the sending off and them scoring straight away was a double blow and it killed us.
"From where I was, I think Ben Chorley went to sleep after he'd got his positioning wrong and it cost him a red card.
"Even at 2-1 down though, we had a stonewall penalty turned down. I spoke to the referee about it, but it's too late now - it's gone.
"It was never a 3-1 and I can only give my boys credit. We deserved something out of the game, but the sending off was a massive turning point."

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Next Up...

Crewe, Priestfield Stadium

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