GILLINGHAM maintained their recent good run of League form with a 2-1 victory at home to West Brom on Saturday. The visitors got off to the worst possible start when they were reduced to ten men within four minutes as former Gillingham player Tony Butler saw red for a professional foul on Marlon King.

This seemed to lift West Brom and they should have scored the opening goal but Jason Roberts missed a penalty two minutes before the interval. Chris Hope made the Baggies striker pay for his abberation by glancing a header into the corner of the net moments later to put the Gills one goal up at half time.

The away team got themselves back into the contest in the second period when Andy Johnson made it 1-1 following an excellent cross from Neil Clement.

And that looked like being the final scoreline until Paul Smith snatched the winner in stoppage time, his first goal of the season, after good work from Bob Taylor and Paul Shaw.