Adam Miller celebrates the opening goal against Leeds United during an epic 3-2 win for the Gills on Saturday. Picture: Matt Reading.

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham earned a precious three points with a memorable victory over Leeds United on Saturday.

The Gills produced a scintillating first 45 minutes to stun promotion-chasing Leeds at Priestfield and then had to defend for their lives.

First half goals from Adam Miller, Mark Bentley and an own goal put the Gills in a fantastic position, but Leeds hit back.

Luciano Becchio scored at the end of the half to make for a nervy second half and Jermaine Beckford tucked away a late penalty for the visitors.

Gillingham boss Mark Stimson said: “We went about our job in the right way, like we have done probably 99 per cent of the time at home this season, and we worked from the first whistle and made it hard for the Leeds defenders to settle on the ball.

“We got decent ball up to the strikers and from there we worked off those two strikers who for us were absolutely outstanding.

“We didn’t play brilliant attractive football like we have done before but to be three goals up against a team of Leeds’ stature it’s going to be up there (with the best).

“The longer the game went the more chance we had of winning it. Even when the goal went in on 85 minutes we knew there would be several minutes of injury time.

“One bit of magic or one lapse in concentration from us and all that first-half work would be undone but it wasn’t to be.

We hung in and defended fantastically.”

Goal-scoring midfielder Adam Miller added: “To win against Leeds at such a crucial time of the season was unbelievable.”

The Gills had the worst possible start, when captain Barry Fuller went off injured with a fractured nose after the first minute, but with eight minutes on the clock they took the lead.

Miller got the early breakthrough when John Nutter’s throw found its way through to the midfielder and his header left keeper Shane Higgs stranded.

Keeper Alan Julian made an important save to deny Max Gradel minutes later, but apart from that he was rarely tested, against a Leeds side who started the afternoon second in the league.

Gills striker Rene Howe was causing problems in the Leeds defence with his physical presence and he struck the base of the post after 15 minutes.

The home side shocked Leeds with a second goal on the half-hour when Miller’s free-kick was headed in by Bentley.

Just three minutes later and the Gills were in dreamland as Jack Payne’s cross was deflected past his own keeper by Richard Naylor.

The gloss was taken off the first half performance slightly, when Becchio turned in the box and fired in low past Julian, to give Leeds a fighting chance for the second half.

Leeds started the second half on the offensive but by the hour-mark they were still trailing 3-1. Their leading scorer Beckford, with 27 goals, was brought off the bench to try and get the Yorkshire side back in the match.

Long shots from Neil Kilkenny and Ben Parker went close but not close enough to trouble Julian as the Gills were forced to repel plenty of Leeds attack.

Leeds pulled another goal back with four minutes left when Jermanie Beckford converted from the spot after he was adjudged to have been fouled by Bentley.

Four minutes of injury time followed for the Gills to hang onto their lead and they did that to take a step closer to safety.

Gills: Julian, Fuller (Payne 4mins), Nutter, Dennehy, Bentley, Miller, Jackman, Barcham, Weston (Jackson 72mins), Oli, Howe. Subs not used: Royce, Wynter, Essam, Maher, Dickson.

Leeds: Higgs, Doyle, Naylor, Kilkenny, Howson, Collins, Hughes (Parker 55mins), Snodgrass (Beckford 55mins), Bromby, Becchio (Watt 77mins), Gradel. Subs not used: Ankergren, Grella, McSheffrey, Lowry.

Attendance: 9,649.

Were you at the match? Could this be the turning point as the Gills battle against the drop? Let us know your thoughts by clicking on the comment section.