Southend United 3 Gillingham 0

GILLINGHAM slipped to their fourth league defeat of the season at Southend United on Saturday.

The Gills were two down before the break and a third in the second half killed off any chances of Ronnie Jepson’s side coming back into it.

"We certainly didn’t want that result," said Jepson. "In the first half it was as good as we’ve played all season away from home but the two goals absolutely killed us. It was so naïve for both of them.

"Second half we never took the responsibility that we should have in certain areas of the field and they bossed it."

The home side were ahead after just eight minutes when Leon Clarke played in Nick Bailey who made no mistake with the finish.

The advantage was doubled a minute before the break when Clarke exposed the defence again and this time Alan McCormack capitalised with a cool finish.

A 2-0 half-time scoreline was perhaps a little unfair on Gillingham who had twice gone close through Gary Mulligan and Efe Sodje.

But the game was wrapped up in the 59th minute when Clarke got the goal he deserved. He picked the ball up on the edge of the Gills box before dispatching a delicate chip over Royce into the far corner.

Matt Harrold should have made it four in the 67th minute but he shot straight at Royce when one-on-one with the keeper and Gillingham were twice saved by the woodwork as Southend dominated the second half.

Gillingham: Royce, Clohessy (Brown 61), Cox, Sodje, King, Armstrong (Graham 65), Southall, Lomas (Stone 84), Bentley, Facey, Mulligan.
Subs Not Used: Stillie, Cogan, Stone.
Attendance: 7,348.

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