Tom Flanagan is denied by Nathan Craig as Gills lost their first away game of the League 2 season. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

A run of six away games without defeat in League 2 came to an end for Gillingham and boss Martin Allen admitted it was hard to take.

A long range free-kick cancelled out Gills’ opener and a deflected shot from 30 yards won it late on for Torquay.

Allen said: “I thought the lads had a real go and they scored a 40-yard free-kick out on the touchline into the corner where up until that point in the second half they hadn’t been near our goal.

“Then the lad scored with a 30-yarder that got a deflection and that was a little hard to take.

“Through the season there are going to be nights where it happens like that but to lose to two goals like that is hard.

“We don’t mind people shooting from that far away and I don’t attach any of the blame to the goalkeeper. It’s just one of those things and a freak of nature I guess.

“This lot were in the play-offs last year. We made changes, to freshen it up, and I thought we played some great football, some really good stuff, but we didn’t come away with the points.”

Missing through injury was Charlie Allen but boss Martin Allen also opted to leave Danny Kedwell, Lewis Montrose and Myles Weston out. All had started in the 4-1 win over Burton on Saturday.

“I had to make a couple of changes as one or two were injured so they couldn’t get out there,” said Allen.

“We will hold our hands up and say well done to Torquay. As the away team we’ve done pretty well here. It grinds having not come away with the point.”