On-loan striker Jo Kuffour has a goal disallowed late-on for offside in Gillingham's 1-0 win over Oxford United. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham finished Saturday’s game with just nine men but Lewis Montrose’s stunning first half goal was enough to win the game.

The hosts had to play almost the entire second half with 10 men after Joe Martin was sent off almost straight after the restart and Gills’ goalscorer also saw red on 88 minutes for a flying tackle on Asa Hall.

Oxford had plenty of chances to get something from the game but were unable to break Gillingham’s resolve.

Gillingham, whose starting team was unchanged from the one which beat Torquay 5-2 the previous weekend, went ahead on the stroke of half-time with a stunning 25 yard shot from midfielder Montrose (pictured).

That goal ended a difficult 45 minutes for the Gills as they faced an Oxford team with plenty of pace in attack. Martin’s dismissal meant the second half was not going to be any easier.

Alfie Potter, in particular, teased the Gillingham back four in the opening 45 minutes but the visitors were unable to make their chances count.

The Gills’ best outlet was livewire forward Jo Kuffour and he engineered an early chance for fellow front-man Frank Nouble that keeper Ryan Clarke saved.

Oxford were forced to play the final five minutes of the opening half with 10 men after Deane Smalley left the field for treatment to a head wound.

In that time the Gills pounced. The goal stemmed from a run forward from Kuffour, as he got past experienced defender Michael Duberry. Clarke saved the shot one-handed but could only watch as Montrose dispatched the loose ball straight back into the top corner.

Gillingham were already facing an Oxford backlash but made things harder on themselves when Martin was dismissed for a second booking just three minutes into the second half.

He earned the second yellow after taking Robert Hall out with a tackle from behind, having already picked up a caution for an early foul on Damian Batt.

Danny Jackman was introduced to shore up the defence, leaving Kuffour upfront alone, but a stunning save from Flitney kept the Gills’ lead intact from Simon Heslop’s vicious close-range shot.

Oxford continued to waste chances and Liam Davis smashed a great effort wide from an angle just before the hour after Hall’s ball had cut through Gills’ defence.

Gillingham were almost gifted a second when Jake Wright cleared the ball into the path of Luke Rooney, but was grateful to see the wide-man put his shot into the arms of Clarke.

At the other end, chances kept coming. Flitney blocked a shot from Hall before missing a long ball and requiring Matt Lawrence to clear the danger.

The Gills, who were clearly tiring in the latter stages after battling so well, thought they had sealed it when Kuffour netted with five minutes left but the linesman signalled for offside.

With two minutes of normal time left Montrose saw red for a sliding tackle on Hall to leave the Gills hanging on with nine men.

James Constable’s miss, when clean through in injury time for Oxford, summed up the day for the visitors where missed chances proved costly.

Gillingham: Flitney, Martin, Fish, Richards, Lawrence, Weston, Montrose, Whelpdale (Lee 65mins), Rooney (Frampton 74mins), Nouble (Jackman 52mins), Kuffour. Subs: S Payne, Gazzaniga.

Oxford: Clarke, Batt, McLaren (A Hall 78mins), Duberry, Wright, Heslop (Constable 55mins), Smalley (Philliskirk 68mins), Potter, Leven, Davis, R Hall. Subs: Whing, Kinniburgh.

Attendance: 5,819.

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