Gillingham have been defeated by Hartlepool by four goals to nil here at Victoria Park. A bright early start by Mark Stimson's men, in which they could have taken the lead twice, made way for a sustained period of defensive uncertainty and the Pools capitalised.
Goals from Andy Monkhouse, Joel Porter, Michael Nelson and Jamie McCunnie sealed the rout, with Gillingham only offering sparse moments of attacking purpose. Indeed forward, Adam Miller, had the best chance from the penalty spot when striker Simeon Jackson was brought down by keeper Arran Lee Barrett, but the former Stevenage Borough man had his effort saved. There was a sense of injustice as Barrett should have been sent off, being the last man when he made the foul, but the referee deemed it only a yellow card - a true reflection of the type of luck that has gone Gillingham's way over the past few games.
Gillingham started the game the brighter of the two sides and, under the watchful eyes of a silent Victoria Park crowd, they took the game to the Pools. New signing Kevin Maher was heavily involved from the start with a saved shot and a goal saving tackle within five minutes. On the 8th, the former Shrimper, carried the ball to the area and unleashed a curling effort that was parried away by goalkeeper Arran Lee Barrett. Then, at the other end, he was involved in saving Gillingham from conceding an early goal when he blocked Joel Porter's shot from 12 yards out.
Hartlepool were struggling to get a foothold in the game throughout the early exchanges, but had a goal disallowed just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark. An in swinging corner was converted by Porter, however the referee spotted a foul on Gills goalkeeper Derek Stillie, and it was chalked off.
It was soon not to matter as Hartlepool took the lead through Andy Monkhouse when he swung a leg, 25 yards from goal and the ball looped, via a deflection, over the desperate Stillie. The goal seemed more speculative than overwhelmingly purposeful, but it managed to inject a stream of confidence into Hartlepool's veins and they began to control the game.
The lead could have been doubled just two minutes later when Michael Nelson connected with a long throw eight yards out, however his header crashed against the woodwork.
To cap off a manic five minutes for Gillingham, the home side then managed to double their lead and, most frustrating of all, it was started from a Gillingham attack. Striker Simeon Jackson had the ball in the Pools' box, slipped as he was about to shoot and had the ball robbed from him. It was then played up to Joel Porter who turned defender Ian Cox, beat Simon King and then clipped the ball over an advancing Derek Stillie to make it 2-0.
The Gillingham defence was really struggling in the difficult conditions - winds were reaching gale force speeds- and, on the half hour, Hartlepool had another effort turned away. A cross flew into the back post and a Pools' player attempted a spectacular side-footed volley, but Stillie continued to provide a stern one-man defence by pushing the ball over the bar.
The Gills finally managed to respond when some good work between Simeon Jackson and Delroy Facey led to Dennis Oli being put in on goal. However, a defender managed to get to the ball first and rifled the ball against Oli and it ran out for a goal kick.
A good start was needed for the second half but it was Hartlepool who started the brighter. With only seconds on the clock Nelson continued to cause problems when he had a shot palmed away by Stillie.
On 56 the home side showed just how much confidence were cruising through their veins when Ritchie Humphreys simply walked the ball past Barry Fuller, ran it goalward and fired in a dangerous shot that was saved well by Stillie.
The lead could have been extended soon after when Anthony Sweeney was alone, 10 yards out from goal, but his effort went comfortably wide.
Gillingham had a chance to claw a goal back, and force a nervous final 20 minutes for the home side, when Simeon Jackson was brought down by keeper Barrett. The referee blew his whistle, pointed to the spot and issued a yellow card to the Pools' keeper - another controversial decision as the keeper was the last man and denied Jackson from a goal scoring opportunity - however, the ball was on the penalty spot and Miller stepped up to take it. This season, Miller's penalty taking skills have been put to the test on three occasions and he has converted every one, but not this one. Barrett got down well and pushed Miller's strike around the post and delivered Gillingham a bitter pill as the player who should have been off the field denying the chance to claw one back.
Mark Stimson's men failed to compose themselves after the miss and Hartlepool took full advantage, increasing their lead to three goals in the 72nd minute. The ball was knocked into the box and Nelson was free to aim a header goalward and it ran into the net off of Stillie's back - a true reflection of Gillingham's luckless afternoon.
With the four minutes of added time winding down the score was increased to 4-0. Right-back Barry Fuller brought down Porter, 18 yards from goal, and Jamie McCunnie curled the ball in from the resulting free-kick.
A torrid afternoon for Stimson and his side, but there are only three days until they are in action again in League One when they travel to in-form Doncaster Rovers. To book your tickets, please call the GFC Ticket Office on 01634 300 000.
Loan signing Kevin Maher goes straight into the starting line-up, with Simeon Jackson preferred upfront to Leroy Griffiths . Keeper Simon Royce is still out due to illness so Derek Stille retains his position between the sticks.
With Garry Richards and Sean Clohessy serving their suspensions, veterean defender Ian Cox and new signing, Barry Fuller, are drafted in.
The Teams:
Hartlepool United: 21. Lee Barrett, 2. McCunnie, 5. Nelson, 27. Collins, 8. Humphreys, 15. Sweeney, 7. Liddle, 4. Boland, 11.Monkhouse,10. Porter, 24. Mackay
Subs: Lee, Craddock
Foley on for Boland 75
Robson on for Monkhouse 79
Elliott on for Humphreys 81
Gillingham: 22. Derek Stille ; 38. Barry Fuller, 6. Ian Cox, 5. Simon King, 35. John Nutter; 27. Kevin Maher; 7. Andrew Crofts, 36. Adam Miller,28. Dennis Oli, 20. Simeon Jackson, 10. Delroy Facey,
Subs: 13. Chris Kiely, 29. Stuart Lewis, 31. Adam Bygrave,
30. Leroy Griffiths on for Oli 60
9. Gary Mulligan on for Jackson 81
