Charlie MacDonald rifles home his second penalty. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Andrew Gidley

It was another miserable afternoon on the road for the Gills, and the near 1200 fans who followed them to Griffin Park, as they were thrashed 4-0 by Brentford in League 1 on Saturday.

Two first-half penalties - one a certainty the other controversial - began their demise, and two more by Myles Weston added to their problems.

Gills made the better start and Simeon Jackson saw his effort tipped onto a post in the second minute, and Andy Barcham have two more efforts on target.

However, it all started to go wrong after nine minutes. Darren Dennehy's poor back-pass left Charlie MacDonald free and he was brought down by Alan Julian, who had an unhappy return to one of his old clubs.

MacDonald stepped up to blast home the spot-kick, and it was the same story after 32 minutes. Kevin Maher was adjudged to have brought down Toumani Diagouraga in the box and MacDonald rifled home.

Myles Weston netted the third two minutes later, firing home left footed.
Debutant James Walker - who came in for the injured Rene Howe - missed two great chances, the second from just six yards in the second half after the ball came back off the post.

Weston wrapped up the scoring with his second 11 minutes from time when the ball came back off the post, hit Julian and bounced over the line.

Mark Stimson admitted he was "devastated" after the defeat. The under-pressure Gills boss faced up to the jeering Gills fans who were calling for his head at the end and said: "I am hurting badly because I hate losing football matches.

"We came here thinking we had a fantastic chance after three decent results and performances where we showed commitment and spirit, and I thought we had enough to get something.

"We spoke before the game about clearing our own lines and not passing back on a very poor pitch, but didn't take it on board, and concede a penalty to go one down.

"I don't think anyone in the stadium thought the second penalty was one. They got it, and when the luck isn't going with you that happens..

"Brentford are a team who are always in your face, they get it forward and ask questions of defenders, and unfortunately we didn't have the right answers. Josh Gowling and Darren Dennehy have looked solid since they started playing together, but today looked like they have never played the game before.

"You walk away beaten 4-0 and devastated - it wasn't a good day."

Stimson will have his squad in on Sunday morning, but added: "We would have done that had we won 4-0, because we have got a game against Tranmere on Tuesday."

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Gowling, Dennehy, Wynter, Bentley (Rooney 58), Maher, Payne, Barcham (MCammon 75), Jackson, Walker (Weston 58).

Subs not used: Royce, Miller, Jackman, Oli.

Attendance: 6,036.