Alan Julian is unable to reach the ball as Shanu Batt puts Millwall in front Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham were soundly beaten by near-neighbours Millwall on Saturday.

The Gills had it all to do in the second half after conceding two goals in the opening 45 minutes at the New Den.

Thing only got worse for Mark Stimson’s team as the central defensive pair of Darren Dennehy and Garry Richards succumbed to injury and, with those two absent, the chances of getting back into the match were unlikely.

A third goal on the hour for Millwall finished the Gills off.

Former Gills striker Neil Harris netted the fourth with a header six minutes later to cap a miserable afternoon for the visitors.

Stimson said: "We always knew it would be difficult because Millwall are on a good run of form. They’re a strong side and they certainly proved that.

"The first goal we conceded was decent play from Millwall. They got in behind us and then there was a cool finish. With the second goal I’m not sure he will score many like that again.

"We had to regroup and it didn’t help when the big lad Darren said he couldn’t carry on for the second half. He felt a bit concussed so we had to make a change.

"At half-time we spoke about trying to get back into the game but after a short period Garry Richards collided with Alan Julian and his ankle looks in a bad way. It’s just one of those freak accidents that can happen and it wasn’t a good one for us because then we faced a Millwall side without our solid pairing of centre halves."

The hosts had broken the deadlock after 27 minutes, following an even start to the match, when Danny Schofield laid the ball off for Shaun Batt to finish.

Millwall had second place to aim for and they were as hungry for League 1 points as the Gills.

With 35 minutes gone they doubled their advantage with an opportunistic strike from defender Tony Craig. With Gills keeper Alan Julian off his line, Craig lobbed the ball towards goal from 25 yards – making it 2-0 to the Lions.

Those goals subdued the visitors who had earlier seen a header from Dennehy go over, while a shot from Simeon Jackson was comfortably dealt with by home keeper David Forde.

Gillingham’s hopes of getting back into the match lengthened with just five minutes of the second half gone – as both central defenders went off injured.

Dennehy was first to be replaced, at half-time for Josh Gowling, and just five minutes into the second half Richards injured himself in a collision with his own keeper Julian.

The Gills were forced to play the final 40 minutes with Mark Bentley and Josh Gowling in central defence.

Milwall hit a third on the hour as Schofield ran at the Gills defence and helped himself to a goal. A fourth followed soon after when a corner was headed back across by Paul Robinson and half-time sub Harris had an easy finish from close range.

Only a good save from Julian in stoppage-time prevented Harris from scoring the fifth.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Dennehy (Gowling 46mins), Richards (Bentley 51mins), Jackman, Lewis, Barcham, Miller, Howe (Maher 76mins), Jackson. Subs not used: Royce, Dickson, Oli, Weston.

Millwall: Forde, Robinson, Schofield, Hackett, Craig, Ward, Smith, Abdou, Trotter (Barron 80mins), Batt (Obika 75mins), Morison (Harris 46mins). Subs not used: Sullivan, Frampton, Alexander, Laird.

Attendance: 14,174 (1,112 visitors)