FT: Gills suffer close defeat

By Jack Nolan
August 23 2006

Gillingham suffered a close defeat at the hands of rivals Millwall Tuesday night. Andrew Crofts scored what turned out to be a consolation deep into the second half, but the Gills were denied thanks to a late header by Hubertz.

The Gills rarely threatened the Lions and never looked like scoring but did start to test Lenny Pidgley after the half our mark. Clint Easton finally back in the side after playing most of the pre season matches, saw his 30 yard effort bounce just wide, but Pidgeley probably had it covered.

But then Millwall took the lead on thirty nine minutes after an eighteen yard effort by Kevin Braniff found the back of the net.

Not much else happened in the first half except for many fouls and throw in's. The ball seemed to be off the pitch more than on it at some stages.

The Gills bossed the second half though and were unlucky not to equalise on a number of times. Clint Eastons improved corners from pre-season found Mickey Flynn who saw one long range effort blocked, and another parried.

Gillingham's hot prospect Matty Jarvis once again impressed but this time on the right side, after Clint Easton playing on the left wing. But with about fifty minutes played, good work by Jarvis went on an impressive run down the right side, beat Millwall defender Zak Whitbread for pace and then got a good cross in which just missed Mark Bentley in the box. A near identical run and cross by Jarvisi only just missed Guylain not to long after.

The Gills then had another chance on the hour mark to force the equaliser after Mickey Flynn found Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu who forced a good save by Millwall 'keeper Lenny Pidgley.

But the Gills finally equalised on eighty minutes when substitute Andrew Crofts latched onto Clint Easton's corner to make the scores even.

Unfortunately for the Gills though, Millwall scored again on eight-five minutes to give them victory. It was a near identical goal to Gillingham's corner with Poul Hubertz connecting onto former Chelsea star Felipe Morais.

Gary Mulligan then broke free of the Lion's defence to get one on one with Lions 'keeper Pidgley, but Mulligan failed to find the net after Pidgley saving well. The miss condemning the Gills to defeat.

So unfortunately for the Gills they crash out of the Carling Cup on the first hurdle, suffering their fourth consecutive defeat.


Gillingham: Randolph, Jupp, Sancho, Cox, Jackman, Bentley (Crofts 60), Easton, Flynn, Jarvis, McDonald (Mulligan 73), Ndumbu-Nsungu.
Subs Not Used - Johnson, Clohessy, Pouton.

Millwall: Pidgley, Ross, Robinson, Whitbread, Bakayogo (Craig 78), Hackett, Elliott, Ardley (Morais 45), Mawene (Hubertz 66), Brighton, Braniff.
Subs Not Used - Fuseini, Day

Bookings: Jupp (Gillingham)

Robinson, Braniff (Millwall)

Attendance: 5,040 (576 Gills fans)