GILLINGHAM 1 LEEDS UNITED 1

A late, late goal from Ian Cox earned the Gills a deserved point as Leeds winning streak came to an end at The KRBS Priestfield Stadium.

The visitors, who were looking to break a club record of eight consecutive wins at the start of a season, were undone by a lack of discipline which cost them dearly. Both strikers, Tresor Kandol and Jermaine Beckford, were sent-off in a 15 minute spell either side of half-time and three others received yellow cards. It was also confirmed afterwards that manager Dennis Wise was sent to the stand following a half-time bust up with referee Danny McDermid.

Unfortunately there were unruly scenes at the end of the game with visiting supporters involved in scuffles with stewards while the referee and his officials were pelted with coins by a small section of the crowd as they headed for the tunnel.

Gillingham, however, are probably wondering how they didn't take all three points after playing against nine men for 35 minutes. Despite plenty of huffing and puffing they could not create enough clear cut chances to threaten the United goal and it looked as if Wise's men were going to hang on to an unlikely victory until Cox netted a 91st minute equaliser.

The Gills caretaker management of Mick Docherty and Iffy Onuora made six changes to the side beaten at Nottingham Forest the previous week with Simon Royce, Sean Clohessy, Marvin Hamilton, Barry Cogan, Adam Nowland and David Graham all coming into the starting eleven.

The home side certainly didn't seem overawed by their opponents and started quite brightly with Cogan looking a constant threat. Nowland twice, Andrew Crofts and Graham all failed to take advantage of early openings while at the other end Beckford, who has netted six times this season, showed his danger by netting in the 15th minute. Thankfully the flag was already up for offside.

Leeds were perhaps a bit fortunate that Andy Hughes wasn't taking an early bath six minutes later. Having already been booked, he caught Steve Lomas from behind but Mr McDermid on this occassion just issued a warning. Mr Wise was obviously not happy with his side's start to the game and was heading down from the Directors Box when the Yorkshire side opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Some people might say it was psychological, others inspirational but many would say it was just luck because as he walked along the touchline Seb Carole's header found its way into the net and Wise was jumped upon by Gus Poyet and other jubilant members of staff.

The goal had come following a free-kick awarded against Nowland for a cynical foul on Frazer Richardson that earned the Gills loanee a yellow card. Jonathan Douglas, who had played for the Gills under Stan Ternent, knocked the ball in, Matt Heath nodded the ball across goal and Carole's header took a deflection beyond Royce.

That was as good as it was going to get for the visitors as in the 40th minute came the first red card. Kandol who had been booked earlier was shown his second yellow for sarcastically applauding the official when awarding a free-kick his side's way.

So at the break Leeds led but were down to ten men and Beckford went close immediately after the restart with an overhead kick that Royce was forced to tip over. That was Beckford's last real involvement.

In the 55th minute a needless rash challenge on Clohessy saw him heading for the dressing room having picked up a silly first booking just four minutes earlier when netting after the official had blown.

There was an immediate double substitution for the visitors with Paul Huntington and Ian Westlake replacing Jamie Clapham and Hughes while Gary Mulligan replaced Steve Lomas as the Gills added to their firepower.

Douglas and keeper Casper Ankergren picked up bookings, the latter perhaps lucky he'd not been seen booting the ball out of the ground during the aftermath of Beckford's dismissal.

The Gills began to create a number of chances but unfortunately failed to take them. Cox shot weakly at the keeper, Graham fired over, Delroy Facey shot wide, Crofts failed to get an acrobatic header on target, substitute Chris Dickson had a couple of efforts blocked and Cogan curled a shot inches over.

Dickson, who had replaced Hamilton, looked lively and put a header on top of the net, Cox fired over from close range, Cogan fired a low shot across the face of goal and Graham finally tested the Danish keeper with a low save to his left.

Then as the clock ticked into time added on, the Gills finally made the breakthrough. Cogan took a corner from the right, Cox rose to power a header goalwards that despite a valiant attempt to clear on the line, ended up in the roof of the net. The KRBS Priestfield Stadium erupted with a mixture of both joy and relief.

There was still time for a couple more chances but neither Nowland or Crofts got their efforts on target.

At the final whistle there were jubilant scenes from the Gills players and on three sides of the ground in front of the biggest home crowd of the campaign. The travelling supporters were naturally far from happy.

Things don't get any easier though because on Tuesday night League One leaders Leyton Orient make the short journey from East London for another big game.