Curtis Weston takes a tumble as Gillingham slip up against Brentford Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham were left empty-handed from a fiery encounter against Brentford in League 1 at Priestfield on Boxing Day.

Both teams ended the game with 10 men, but the Gills had nothing to show for a decent performance.

Missed chances in the first half proved costly and Gillingham suffered their first home defeat since August.

The majority of the second half was played 10-a-side as Gills’ Josh Gowling and Brentford’s Charlie MacDonald saw red in separate incidents.

Brentford were a goal ahead at the break after scoring with their only on-target shot of the first half.

The Gills had the chances and the possession in the opening 45 minutes but late in the half Ben Strevens struck to make the hosts pay for not making the most of their dominance.

Gowling lasted just five minutes of the second half and MacDonald wasn’t on for much longer as both picked up second bookings.

Gillingham were limited to half chances in the second half and were unable to break down a stubborn Brentford side.

Boss Mark Stimson appreciated his team’s efforts, but knows that points are what matter most.

He said: “It’s a results business. We would like to win and if you get the performance it’s a double bubble, but we didn’t get that. It wasn’t for the lack of trying and creating.

“We created enough chances to win two or three games, but unfortunately we came up against a good keeper on the day. With a bit better finishing we could have comfortably been 3-0 up again like we were in our last home game.

“It wasn’t to be and we were 1-0 down at half-time and we just spoke about being patient and playing football. It was a joy to watch in the first half and there was some real good stuff. We made them look really ordinary, but they got their reward and scored a goal.

“We came out for the second half and within five minutes we are down to 10 men. We knew it would be a little harder but the boys still tried, although we didn’t really create that opportunity in the second half to test their keeper like we did in the first.”

Brentford had taken the lead on 44 minutes as Myles Weston crossed for Charlie MacDonald. He got a touch and strike partner Strevens followed in with the decisive touch to put the visitors in front.

The goal finally woke the visitors up and they almost doubled the lead moments later as Strevens came in at the back post. His shot went high and wide.

Prior to that moment it had been all Gills with a flurry of chances. The best came to Febian Brandy and with 19 minutes gone only a late deflection saw his shot go wide. Later in the half keeper Lewis Price had to make a great point-blank save to deny on-loan Manchester United striker.

The second half started badly for the Gills when Gowling was sent off after picking up his second booking of the match, just five minutes after the interval. Both bookings were for fouls, the second for an ugly tackle on MacDonald. Gowling had only just returned following a two-match ban.

Just after the hour mark Alan Julian had to save well from Sam Saunders, but before long it was 10 versus 10.

MacDonald, who had already been booked in the first half, left a foot in on Tom Wynter, and referee Fred Graham levelled up the sides.

Chris Palmer and Barry Fuller shot over for the Gills, but they were unable to get back into the match.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Palmer (McCammon 90mins), Gowling, Bentley, Oli, Maher, Weston, Nutter (Wynter 50mins), Brandy, Jackson. Subs not used: Lewis, Rooney, Payne, Locke, Yussuff.

Brentford: Price, Legge (Bennett 74mins), O’Connor, Bean, Balkenstein, Weston, Hunt (Saunders 46mins), Foster, Woods, Strevens (Murphy 90mins), MacDonald. Subs not used: Cort, Osborne, Bostock, Moore.

Attendance: 7,009.