Gillingham 2 Chesterfield 1

A DRAMATIC late turnaround saw Gillingham claim victory from the jaws of defeat against Chesterfield at Priestfield on Saturday.

The Gills entered stoppage time a goal down after Chesterfield debutant Mark Hughes' 39th minute shot was deflected past Kelvin Jack.

But they equalised when Gary Mulligan turned in Matt Jarvis' cross and then substitute Dean McDonald sent the home crowd into raptures when he finished excellently from Mark Bentley's header.

It was a welcome change for the Gills who have so often surrendered leads this season and the result moves them closer to the League 1 play-off places.

Earlier, Chesterfield almost went ahead when Jack failed to claim a Kevan Hurst corner, but the keeper's blushes were spared when Larkin fired over from close range.

Jack made amends for any errors just before the break when he did well to deny Colin Larkin when clean through.

It looked like it wasn't going to be the Gills' day when first Mulligan's volley was superbly tipped over the bar by visiting keeper Barry Roche and, from the resulting corner, Leon Johnson saw his header hit the crossbar.

Gillingham: Jack, Jupp, Cox, Johnson, Easton, Bentley, Crofts (Pouton h-t), Flynn (Chorley 78), Jarvis, Mulligan, Ndumbu-Nsungu (McDonald h-t).
Subs not used: Sancho, Chorley, Savage.