By Jack Nolan
September 23 2006

Gillingham recorded their third away defeat in League One this season after a 4.1 thrashing at Boundary Park. The Gills' only goal came from a well taken spot kick by team captain Mickey Flynn in the second half. Gillingham went into the game off of three consecutive victories, one of those an away game. Mulligan and club captain Ian Cox passed late fitness tests to play the game which should the Gills have won, could have sent them into the play-offs.

The Gills started very poorly thought and with the game just four minutes old, they were behind after ameteur like defending.

Andy Liddel's corner was cleared by Gills midfielder Clint Easton, but Easton's clearence was whipped back into the box and Oldham captain Haining was there to slot home to give the home side an early advantage.

The home side were close to doubling there advantage just minutes after when the ball was put in the box only for it to evade an Oldham head, giving the poor Gills side a welcome bit of luck.

But Oldham did double there advantage after twenty minutes. The Gills commited men forward in search of an equaliser from a corner kick which fell to Matt Jarvis who was dispossed allowing Oldham to counter-attack and Porter was set up and slotted home past on loan 'keeper Scott Flinders to double the Latics' lead.

Ronnie Jepson's Gills went in at half time and his team talk didn't exactly inspire them as just twenty five seconds into the second half former Norwich player Simon Charlton trying to play the ball forward to Oldham's strikers took an awkard bounce and somehow found its way past Gills 'keeper Scott Flinders to make it 3.0 to the Latics.

But the Gills got a lifeline when Gary Mulligan was brought down inside the box. Mickey Flynn who has already scored from the spot this season stepped up and unleashed an unstoppable penalty into the top left hand corner.

The Latics should have finished the game on the hour mark when Liddle played in Paul Warne, but failed to find the net from just six yards out.

Oldham 'keeper was finally tested just after the hour mark when Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu unleashed a good shot from 19 yards. He was then tested again Gary Mulligan tried to score his first goal of the season on 75 minutes.

The Latics then went 4.1 up with just minutes of the game left to play when Porter was on hand to score his second of the game to send the Gills fans home very insatisfied at the Gillingham performance.

The Gills face Leyton Orient away in their next fixture and then Cheltenham at home. Many Gillingham fans will expect at least four points from those two games.


Gillingham: Flinders, Jupp, Johnson, Cox, Jackman, Bentley, Crofts (Ndumbu-Nsungu 45), Flynn, Easton (Spiller 45), Jarvis, Mulligan.
Subs Not Used - Clohessy, Pouton, McDonald.