Gillingham conceded an opening goal against Doncaster Rovers just five minutes after a controversial moment that got their head coach a booking.

Stephen Clemence picked up a booking from referee Alex Chilowicz after watching his striker Josh Andrews “rugby tackled” by Doncaster defender Tom Anderson, as Connor Mahoney went to take a corner kick.

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The referee insisted the kick hadn’t been taken as the offence was committed, but either way, Clemence questioned how the incident wasn’t dealt with.

Moments after the controversial moment the Gills conceded when Joe Ironside converted a 30th-minute cross.

Clemence was asked about the crucial period in the match and said: “I felt very deflated, I have to be honest, and why I lost my temper was because there was a rugby tackle in the box.

“I am thinking, ‘I have never seen such a blatant penalty in all my life’, and I am looking straight at it.

“I lost my temper with the fourth official (Ben Atkinson) and probably said something I shouldn’t have said but the referee came over and said the ball wasn’t in play.

“For me, if the ball isn’t in play can you just go and rugby tackle someone on the pitch and nothing happens? It seems a bit silly to me, you shouldn’t be able to do that.”

Mr Chilowicz was taking charge at Priestfield for the first time.

He’s been officiating in the EFL since December having previously been a Major League Soccer official in the US.

Chilowicz officiated 237 games in America’s top-flight league while he also acted as the Video Assistant Referee for the MLS All-Star fixture in 2018 and fourth official in the MLS Cup final in 2020.

The official also denied Doncaster a penalty in the second half, following Andrews’ challenge on James Maxwell inside the box, and had no hesitation in getting the red card out to dismiss visiting keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala when he handled the ball outside the area.

It left Doncaster played with ten men for most of the second half as the Gills fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.