Nottingham Forest 1 Gillingham 0

GILLINGHAM were beaten by a superb 85th minute free-kick from Lewis McGugan at the City Ground.

The Gills had rode their luck in the first half but after a battling second period they will feel hard done by after losing so late on.

McGugan's strike, from the edge of the penalty area, was world class and even Gills keeper Romain Larrieu was unable to stop that one.

French keeper Larrieu pulled off several spectacular saves in the first half as Forest looked like a team chasing promotion.

But in the second half they were made to look average as Gillingham pressed and attacked in numbers.

Gillingham were without two players of interest to the home fans as Forest transfer target Matt Jarvis was missing with a groin injury, while Nicky Southall, who was recently re-signed by the Gills from the Nottingham side was unable to play due to an agreement between the two sides.

Sean Clohessy came in for Southall at right back and the youngster looked like helping the Gills to a clean sheet against a side with an abundance of top class strikers.

But it was the 18-year-old midfielder McGugan who settled the match with a free-kick that would have graced any football pitch.

Gills: Larrieu, Jackman, Flynn (Easton 66), Sancho, Johnson, Clohessy, Bentley, Crofts, Mulligan, McDonald, Spiller. Subs Not Used: Ndumbu-Nsungu, Cox, Chorley, Collin. Att: 17,950.