Gills 3 (Miller, Bentley, o.g.) v Leeds United 2
Brilliant Gills stunned automatic promotion hopefuls Leeds United with a hard working and solid all round team performance earning three valuable points in their fight for League One survival.
Three goals without reply inside the first 34 minutes from the in-form Adam Miller (right) and the eventual Man of the Match, Mark Bentley (left) plus an own goal had the Priestfield crowd on cloud nine.
Leeds arrived on the back of three successive wins but never showed their undoubted class as Gills outplayed and overwhelmed them in a great first half.
Saturday 17 April - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace
Despite a smart individual goal right on half time by Luciano Becchio Leeds tried without much success to test Alan Julian in the Gills goal. This was down in no small part to a solid defensive display and a hard working team performance especially from the striking partnership of Rene Howe and Dennis Oli. These two caused all sorts of mayhem with the Leeds back four who just couldn’t cope with their all-action efforts.
Gills were forced to make defensive changes with Josh Gowling suspended and they suffered another blow when inside two minutes of the start captain Barry Fuller was forced to retire due to a broken nose sustained in a diving effort forcing a loose ball back to Alan Julian.
Manager Mark Stimson brought on young Jack Payne (left) off the bench to play at right back and he took his chance well playing a solid part against one of the strongest attacks in League One,
Gills all-action start earned them an eighth minute reward when an unmarked Adam Miller met John Nutter’s long throw from the Gordon Road stand. His subsequent header was precision as he steered it into the top corner with Higgs in the Leeds goal grasping thin air as the ball looped into the net.
Leeds were stunned and reacted immediately when Max Gradel somehow was allowed to run through both Darren Dennehy and Mark Bentley and let fly with a right footed volley. Alan Julian sprang to his left and got both hands to the ball but could only palm it away for a corner.
At the other end Dennis Oli and Rene Howe were causing the Leeds defensive unit many problems, winning headers and generally holding and moving the ball bringing the Gills midfield into the game.
Gills were turning on the style and Adam Miller, pumped up and playing well, put a lovely free-kick that curved straight to Mark Bentley who rose majestically to head home without challenge into the net.
Two goals up and a third arrived three minutes later as former Leeds player Curtis Weston crossed the ball into the penalty area, and Richard Naylor's headed clearance came back off Leigh Bromby past stranded goal keeper Higgs for an own goal.
Leeds were struggling to make any impact as half time approached but did manage to get a goal back on 45 minutes when striker Luciano Becchio (pictured right) gathered the ball in the Gills area, quickly turned and shot past Alan Julian into the far bottom corner.
This lifeline spurred Leeds on as the second half commenced and the Gills were tested all over the pitch. They were not found wanting with Gills heroes covering every blade of Priestfield grass in their efforts to maintain equality in the game.
Leeds found it difficult as they were meeting resistance in every department and despite having the majority of possession found clear chances hard to create. They were reduced to mostly long-range efforts but none really threatened Alan Julian.
In fact Leeds never looked like reducing the deficit further but substitute Jermaine Beckford was adjudged to have been fouled by Mark Bentley in the area. A harsh decision from my viewpoint but there again no complaints as Mark did have ample opportunity to clear over the roof of the Gordon Road Stand before the incident.
Beckford who is a leading League One scorer and tops Leeds charts easily put the ball past Alan Julian to create a lot of tension for the remaining minutes, which included four, added by the fourth official.
Make no mistake Gills thoroughly deserved their victory from this entertaining match and the three points gained in their relegation battle.
Gills: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller (Jack Payne 3 minutes), Mark Bentley, Darren Dennehy, John Nutter, Adam Miller, Curtis Weston (Simeon Jackson 71 minutes), Danny Jackman, Andy Barcham, Dennis Oli and Rene Howe.
Unused Subs: Simon Royce, Tom Wynter, Kevin Maher, Chris Dickson and Connor Essam.
Leeds: Higgs, Doyle, Naylor, Kilkenny, Howson, Hughes (Parker 55 minutes), Snodgrass (Beckford 55 minutes), Bromby, Gradel, Becchio (Watt 77 minutes) and Collins.
Unused Subs: Ankergren, Grella, McSheffrey and Lowry.
Attendance: 9,649 (2,241 Leeds fans)