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Gillingham 3 Leeds United 2
By David Pritchard
Gillingham boosted their survival hopes with a gutsy victory against high-flying Leeds United at Priestfield.
Goals from Adam Miller Mark Bentley and an own goal gave the Gills a scarcely believable 3-0 lead after just 33 minutes. Luciano Becchio pulled a goal back just before half-time and a late penalty from Jermaine Beckford set up a nerve-shredding finale, but the Gills held on for victory they deserved for their work rate alone.
Gills boss Mark Stimson said: "We just went about our job in the right way like we have done probably 99 per cent of the time at home this season. We worked from the first whistle, made it hard for the Leeds defenders to settle on the ball and from there we worked off our two strikers, who were absolutely outstanding.
"When they had all their attacking players on it only takes on bit of magic or one lapse in concentration from us and all that first half hour's work could've been undone. It wasn't to be and we defended fantastically - the two centre-halves, along with the full-backs and the 'keeper all did their job."
Darren Dennehy won his fitness battle with a back injury started at centre-half alongside Bentley. Stimson kept faith with Dennis Oli and Rene Howe up front, so Simeon Jackson was again named among the substitutes.
The game began terribly for the hosts, who lost skipper Barry Fuller inside 30 seconds. The full-back looked to clash heads with Dennehy and came off with a suspected broken nose. Teenager Jack Payne came on at right-back.
Despite the setback Gillingham went on to dominate an astonishing half of football, which rattled promotion-chasing Leeds. They took the lead on eight minutes, when John Nutter’s long throw reached an unmarked Miller, who brilliantly steered a header into the top corner.
Leeds almost pulled a goal back straight away when Max Gradel ghosted in between the centre-backs, but the striker’s powerful shot was straight at Gills stopper Alan Julian, who parried.
Oli and Howe caused the Leeds centre-backs real problems and the home side moved the ball around crisply. Although they were well in the game, no one expected them to score twice in a staggering three minute spell around the half hour mark.
Miller turned provider for the second goal, swinging in a free kick from the left which found Bentley, who headed home powerfully. Ecstasy then turned to euphoria as a hopeful Payne cross was turned in by a combination of Richard Naylor and Leigh Bromby.
Leeds pulled a goal back a minute before the break with a smart turn and shot by Becchio, which gave the visitors a platform to build on in the second half.
As expected the visitors poured forward after the break, forcing Gillingham to dig in and scrap at every opportunity. But despite dominating possession Leeds found it very difficult to get in behind their hosts, with Bentley and Dennehy superb in the air.
Time and again Leeds’ final ball let them down, with a succession of dangerous-looking moves undone by over-hit crosses. They were reduced to efforts from distance, but none troubled Julian.
As time ebbed away Leeds became more irritable, which helped the Gills’ cause. With just five minutes remaining the game looked won, but out of nowhere Leeds won a penalty. Bentley was harshly adjudged to have fouled Beckford, but the Gills’ defender had plenty of time to clear the ball from danger. Leeds’ top scorer gave Julian no chance from 12 yards.
The goal set up a tense finish, not helped by four minutes added on, but the Gills hung on for a precious victory.
The Gills visit leaders Norwich City next Saturday.
Attendance: 9,649
Gills: Julian, Fuller (Payne 4), Bentley, Dennehy, Nutter, Miller, Weston (Jackson 71), Jackman, Barcham, Oli, Howe
Subs: Royce, Wynter, Maher, Dickson, Essam
Leeds: Higgs, Doyle, Naylor, Kilkenny, Howson, Hughes (Parker 55), Snodgrass (Beckford 55), Bromby, Gradel, Becchio (Watt 77), Collins
Subs: Ankergren, Grella, McSheffrey, Lowry
POSTED: 17/04/2010 14:25:45