Gillingham 1 Leyton Orient 1
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Chris Dickson gives
Gillingham the lead against Leyton Orient Picture:
Barry Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham were denied maximum points
at Priestfield on Tuesday night after visitors Leyton
Orient scored a late and controversial equaliser.
The Gills were ahead after just eight
minutes as Chris Dickson netted from close range, after Orient
keeper Jamie Jones failed to gather Simeon Jackson's low and
powerful strike.
Things were levelled up with 15
minutes left as Tamika Mkandawire scored following Charlie Daniels’
set-piece. It was a hotly-contested free-kick in the first place,
after Dickson had been penalised for a foul.
It was a decision from referee Darren
Sheldrake that cost the Gills a second successive League 1 victory.
Gills boss Mark Stimson was disappointed at the decision to
award Orient a free-kick.
"It was harsh," said Stimson. "It
might look a small thing but I know from the sidelines that the
ball is going in the box and I genuinely thought it was our
free-kick.
"I’ve spoken with the officials but
they don’t agree and they thought it was the other way around."
It was a crucial moment in the game
and the Gills were unable to find a second goal.
"After taking an early lead, from a
decent strike by Jacko and Dicko following in, you think ‘great
start’," said Stimson.
"We didn’t do badly first half and we
spoke at half-time about what we needed to keep doing. We needed to
keep turning their back four because we’ve got a lot of pace up
front and we could cause them problems.
"That didn’t really materialise second
half. To concede the goal and come away with just a point is
disappointing because I thought we had a great chance of getting
three."
Stimson had named an attacking line-up
with Jackson recalled to the side to play in a three-man
strike-force alongside Dickson and Rene Howe.
Orient were always a threat but it was
the Gills who almost added a second when Danny Jackman’s free-kick
curled just the wrong side of Jones’ post.
Jones also had to be alert to tip
Barry Fuller’s long-range looping cross over the bar and gather
Dickson’s shot as he deflected another low Jackson shot
goalwards.
Jackson combined with Howe before the
break to come close again but this time the striker lifted his deft
lob just over.
The Gills held their lead for the
break but, worryingly, skipper Fuller left the pitch with an
injured arm just before half-time.
Jones’ handling was tested again early
in the second half and he kept hold of Adam Miller’s low shot from
a Gills free-kick.
At the other end Aaron Doran got a
shot away, after a good turn on the edge of the area, but he fired
wide. Moments later a great cross from Jonathan Tehoue was almost
converted by Ryan Jarvis, only for Gills keeper Alan Julian to
pounce.
Jones needed look more than anything
to keep Dickson’s header out on the hour mark as the striker
glanced Kevin Maher’s corner towards the target. That chance was
quickly followed by a stinging drive from Orient’s Demetriou that
was saved well low down by Julian.
Gillingham conceded in controversial
circumstances on 72 minutes when Dickson was penalised from a foul
and Orient scored from the free-kick as Daniels' cross fell to
Mkandawire and he smashed home.
Garry Richards missed a golden chance
to restore the lead immediately but he headed Maher’s corner
wide.
Fuller will have an x-ray on his arm
and there are fears it could be a break.
"It must have been a whack for him to
come off because he’s as tough as anything," said Stimson.
Gills: Julian, Fuller
(Palmer 44mins), Nutter, Dennehy, Richards, Miller, Maher (Barcham
77mins), Jackman, Howe (Oli 68mins), Jackson, Dickson. Subs: Royce,
Gowling, Weston, Walker.
Orient: Jones,
Purches, Chorley, Mkandawire, Chambers (Thornton 68mins),
Demetriou, Daniels, Jarvis, Tehoue (McGleish 68mins), Smith, Doran
(Scowcroft 84mins). Subs: Morris, Ashworth, Cave-Brown, Pires.
Attendance:
4,753.
Tuesday, February 23 2010
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