Tranmere Rovers 2 - 2 Gillingham

DARREN BYFIELD produced a dazzling display as stand-in captain at Tranmere with his brace rescuing a point for Gillingham on Saturday.

The striker led from the front during a pulsating game in which Gills twice came from behind, curling home a free-kick in the first half, scoring a penalty in the second and having two efforts hit the bar.

Byfield said: "When I found out I was going to be captain I was so happy. I think I phoned everyone I knew. They keep calling me the gaffer’s son and I’ve taken some stick but it’s good.

"I felt a lot more responsible and that when I spoke people listened to me a bit more. Although I know it’s not for long, as when (Chris) Hope returns he’ll have the armband back."

Byfield’s brace took him to five goals for the season but he was disappointed not to have increased that tally.

"I’d have liked my other chances to have gone in," he said. "I had a good chance right at the end.

"I’ve got five goals now and I need two more to beat last season’s total. The lads battled well and we were unlucky not to get three points.

"We’ve got a great set of lads and we’re all close and hopefully when we get that win we’ll move on from there."

* FOR A FULL MATCH REPORT, MORE PICTURES AND ALL THE POST-MATCH REACTION SEE MONDAY'S MEDWAY MESSENGER.

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