Boss Peter Taylor was thrilled at his side’s second half turnaround.

The Gills went a goal down in the first half and had Joe Martin sent off in the second.

But Taylor’s men fought back to win and book an area semi-final place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

“It was a tremendous effort second half,” said Taylor.

“I thought the players worked incredibly hard to get back into the game. Of course, we went down to 10 men, so we had to work even harder but they did.

“I congratulated them on that and I thought the second half was great. The start of the first half was decent but there were too many things in the first half that I don’t think we did enough, that’s why we were losing at half time.”

Taylor put Bradley Dack and Jermaine McGlashan on the flanks for the second half.

And after a few choice words with his team, they responded.

“There were a few things said half time,” said the manager.

“I made some people realise they have to do more. Second half they couldn’t have done any more.”

But the Gills did go down to 10 men before the fightback began. Joe Martin and Crawley striker Izale McLeod clashed off the ball. Martin was sent off and McLeod got a yellow.

“It should either be two yellows and two reds, that’s my argument,” said Taylor.

“It is incredibly frustrating. Joe is saying he got pushed first and everyone agrees with that. He might have got pushed in the throat area.

“Joe shouldn’t have then pushed but he did and he pushed him in the face. Why is one a red and one a yellow? That was harsh. We will look at it on the video.”

McGlashan levelled the scores for ten man Gills, who rallied with a man less, and on 88 minutes Doug Loft’s cross went straight in to win it.

“When it’s 10 versus 11 there is more pressure sometimes on the 11 to make sure that they beat you,” said Taylor.

“Thankfully for us Jermaine McGlashan got his first goal for the club, with great calmness.

“It is nice Loft got his first goal for us as well. He probably will say he meant it but we’re not having that!”