Gillingham 4 Luton 3

CHRIS DICKSON made an immediate impact on his first start for Gillingham with a hat-trick at Priestfield.

His goals, the first he has scored in senior football, pulled the Gills back into the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round tie, after they had been trailing 3-1 at half-time.

The winner came on 88 minutes from midfielder Mark Bentley after he had capitalised on a defensive blunder.

Iffy Onuora, who remains in charge of the team on a temporary basis, said: “We spoke at half time about staying in the game. We got the goals and got back in the game at the right time.

“The second goal gave us belief and the forces were with us. After our third goal went in, I’m half looking at my penalty takers, but we scored the fourth and it’s left everyone in a really good frame of mind.”

Gillingham had taken the lead on 17 minutes, as Chris Dickson scored his first, but Luton were level just before the half hour after Paul Furlong netted.

Furlong struck his side’s second on 43 minutes after beating keeper Derek Stillie from close range and a converted penalty from Matthew Spring gave Luton a 3-1 half-time lead.

Gillingham made a gallant fightback in the second half and two more goals from Dickson, on 74 and 80 minutes, levelled the match at 3-3.

Then a poor back-pass from Lewis Emanuel was cut out by Mark Bentley and he slotted home the winning goal.