By Jack Nolan
September 16 2006

Brilliant Gillingham took their winning run to three games today after a three goals to one victory over high-flyers Swansea. The Gills took the lead after two well taken goals by defender Ian Cox and a stunning effort by Matty Jarvis. Leon Knight scored an impressive equaliser for the Swans.
Gillingham dominated from start to finish in front of an impressed Gills crowd. Looking at the game you wouldn't have thought Swansea were twelve spots ahead of the Gills before K.O. It didnt take long for the Gills either to take the lead. After a well worked cross Ian Cox was on hand to slot home for one nil after fifteen minutes.

The Gills then doubled their lead after half an hour gone. Mickey Flynn played a lovely through ball to Matty Jarvis who out-paced Izzy Ireikpen to smash home into the top left hand of the corner.

The Gills went in at half-time pleased with their work after dominating the majority of the game and going in two up.

The Gills then started dominate the majority of the second half to and Ian Cox put the Gills three up with his second goal of the game. Matt Jarvis' overhead kick found Croftsey who headed down for Ian Cox to volley into the back of the net from ten yards out.

Many Gills fans may remember the last time Ian Cox scored two goals the game finished three goals to one against Coventry, and that turned out to be the result. Flinders pulled off a cracking save to deny Leon Knight. but then Knight found the net with an impressive over-head kick.

The Gills finished as winners and climbed to the twelvth place. The Gills will be looking to gain their fourth consecutive victory at Oldham.

Ronnie's Reaction:

Speaking to the official site Ronnie said, "It was a good performance against a good side. We are a million miles away from Swansea in terms of budget but the lads out there today, which we they have done all season, they have a wonderful work-ethic and they believe in one and other and I thought we deserved the three points.

"They had a 15-20 minute spell, which I thought they would with the quality they have got. Overall, I was disappointed that we didn't get one or two more goals but a three-one win over Swansea at home, you would take that all day long. All credit to the lads.

"We just put our head and foot on the ball, like we have done all season, we work on the opposition. We had a little game plan and I played Matty Jarvis down the middle as I thought we could hurt them with a bit of pace and we got in there on numerous occasions. We work on one or two things down the training ground and today it come off and we got our rewards. I think we set up well against them. They are good side but the way we set up and did one or two things to exploit them, it come off today.

"The boys stuck at it and it was nice for Ian Cox to score two goals, it is about time! That will be Coxy's two for the season, but hopefully he can add to that. I keep asking the lads to score goals from different areas of the team and they are coming up with them at this moment in time. If I wanted to be over-critical, like I said, we could have maybe had one or two more."

"They have got good quality in there with Adebayo Akinfenwa and Leon Knight. Knight is a tricky player and I thought we coped with him well. To be fair, I thought it was a good finish. I would have liked us to have cleared the first ball that went into the box. We didn't and the lad has finished it well."

"Everyone saw the league last year and Southend weren't very fancied but they done well and won the title. I think Swansea will be up there. They have a good side and a big squad."

"I decided to go with Matty and Gary Mulligan up-front as they have both got good pace, they never give in and they will chase everything. When they get in there, they cause problems, which they did again today. It was a great finish from Matty."

Gary Mulligan had a good penalty appeal turned down, and Ronnie said. He has got six stud marks across his chest that he got in the first half. He was struggling with his breathing. I asked him to go back on for the start of the first-half. He is that type of lad and he will give you everything. In the end, he couldn't do any more and I had to make a change."