Colchester United 5 – 0 Gillingham

GILLINGHAM’S awful away form continued on Saturday as Colchester tore them apart at Layer Road.

The home side took the lead after 32 minutes when Greg Halford latched onto Kevin Watson’s pass and coolly lobbed the ball over Tony Bullock in the Gillingham goal.

Earlier, the visitors had had a decent penalty appeal turned down when Andrew Crofts appeared to be shoved in the back after a low cross into the box.

But after the break it was all Colchester and two goals in a minute early in the second half put the game beyond Ronnie Jepson’s men.

First, Halford doubled the advantage with a goal-of-the-season contender when the impressive Halford produced a fantastic long-range shot which flew past Bullock after 52 minutes.

Then just 60 seconds later Jamie Cureton found himself in space beyond the defenders before beating the keeper with ease from the edge of the box.

Colchester made it 4-0 with 25 minutes to play when Halford capitalised on a mistake by Tom Williams, held off substitute Danny Jackman before finding Cureton who hammered the ball past Bullock.

And Gillingham’s embarrassment was complete three minutes later when Wayne Brown was left unmarked to steer the ball in for the fifth.

The Gills offered little in attack as the returning Darren Byfield found himself isolated up front for much of the game.

Gillingham: Bullock, Clohessy, Cox, Johnson, Williams, Spiller (Harris 54), Smith (Jackman 54), Crofts, Jarvis, Flynn, Byfield.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Rose, Saunders.