Carlisle 5 Gillingham 0

FOUR goals in the final nine minutes condemned Gillingham to their heaviest defeat of the season at Carlisle.

The Gills were trailing by just the single goal and pushing for an equaliser until Mark Bentley’s 73rd minute sending-off signalled the start of a rapid capitulation.

Peter Murphy’s 14th minute free-kick had given Carlisle the advantage in a low-key first half where neither team looked on top form.

Gillingham were looking good for an equaliser after the break but a second booking for Bentley, both for fouls, saw him head for the changing rooms early and the home side made full use of the extra space.

On 81 minutes Luke Joyce headed Carlisle’s second which effectively killed off Gillingham’s chances.

Three minutes later Kevin Gall slid in to add the third and from the spot the Cumbrians added another.

Brent Sancho’s foul on lively substitute Johann Smith was adjudged to have been in the area, despite protests from the defender that it was outside and striker Danny Graham slotted home from the spot, with two minutes to go.

Graham had time to double his own tally in the final minute, when Kevin Gall’s cross picked him out and with no defenders near him it was an easy header, which finally finished off a miserable afternoon for Gills' 323 travelling supporters.

Gills: Larrieu, Jackman, Sancho, Bentley, Mulligan, McDonald (Ndumbu-Nsungu 66), Southall, Johnson, Spiller (Flynn 75), Bastians, Tonge. Subs Not Used: Chorley, Cox, Easton. Att: 6,087.