Gillingham picked up their first win in eight games with victory over Torquay.

Gulls winger Danny Stevens cracked a shot off the woodwork in the opening exchanges, while Jack Payne saw an effort well blocked by Lee Mansell.

Simon King opened the scoring with a diving header after Danny Kedwell flicked on Danny Jackman's corner.

Joe Oastler saw red for the visitors late on when he brought down Gavin Tomlin in the area, leaving Kedwell to stroke home from the spot.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent:

"We felt it was coming after Tuesday's performance, and at Port Vale, but that was really pleasing. We stuck with the young ones and they're loving it, there were some excellent performances out there.

"I'm sure Connor Essam's parents are sitting there watching him very proud of him and rightly so, it looks like he's been playing for us for a long, long time.

"We're worrying about the number of games coming up, we can't rest on our laurels, we have to continue doing this until the end of the season."

Torquay United manager Martin Ling told BBC Radio Devon:

"The referee didn't think it was a penalty, the linesman gave the decision.

"We're going to appeal, it isn't fair that Joe Oastler takes the rap for something he didn't do.

"I accept defeat because we didn't do well enough."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Gillingham

  • 28 Gazzaniga Booked
  • 05 King
  • 18 Jackman
  • 22 Essam
  • 24 Evans
  • 07 Whelpdale
  • 08 Payne Booked
  • 10 Weston (C Lee - 71' )
  • 09 Kedwell
  • 33 Kuffour (Montrose - 79' )
  • 39 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 06 Richards
  • 12 Martin
  • 04 C Lee
  • 19 Montrose
  • 37 O Lee

Torquay United

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 03 Nicholson
  • 04 Ellis
  • 06 Saah
  • 18 Oastler Dismissed
  • 07 Mansell
  • 10 O'Kane
  • 11 Morris (Atieno - 63' )
  • 19 Stevens
  • 22 Lathrope (McPhee - 81' )
  • 09 Howe Booked

Substitutes

  • 13 Rice
  • 02 Rowe-Turner
  • 21 MacDonald
  • 16 McPhee
  • 23 Atieno
Ref: Waugh
Att: 4,865

Match Stats

Shots

16 7

On target

9 3

Corners

10 3

Fouls

12 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +1:24

Gavin Tomlin fouled by Brian Saah, the ref awards a Penalty.

90:00 +3:54 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:21 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Kedwell - Gillingham 2 - 0 Torquay Power penalty scored by Danny Kedwell. Gillingham 2-0 Torquay.

90:00 +2:20 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee sends off Joe Oastler for professional foul.

90:00 +1:24

Unfair challenge on Gavin Tomlin by Joe Oastler results in a Penalty.

90:00 +0:52

The ball is swung over by Kevin Nicholson, Rene Howe has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the right of the goal.

90:00 +0:06

The ball is delivered by Chris Whelpdale.

88:38

Foul by Chris McPhee on Charlie Lee, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Danny Jackman.

87:51

Short corner taken by Gavin Tomlin from the right by-line.

87:12

The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris McPhee. Paulo Gazzaniga takes the free kick.

86:35

Centre by Charlie Lee, Mark Ellis manages to make a clearance.

84:33

Free kick taken by Kevin Nicholson.

84:33 Booking

Booking Paulo Gazzaniga is given a yellow card.

84:14

Paulo Gazzaniga challenges Chris McPhee unfairly and gives away a free kick.

83:16

Foul by Brian Saah on Gavin Tomlin, free kick awarded. Centre by Danny Jackman, Lewis Montrose has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

83:06

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Brian Saah gets a block in.

82:38

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Brian Saah.

81:59

Danny Kedwell has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

80:10 Substitution

Substitution Chris McPhee comes on in place of Damon Lathrope.

79:38

A cross is delivered by Danny Jackman, clearance by Mark Ellis.

78:15 Substitution

Substitution Lewis Montrose comes on in place of Jo Kuffour.

76:14

The ball is swung over by Gavin Tomlin, Kevin Nicholson makes a clearance. Short corner taken by Danny Jackman from the right by-line. Danny Jackman is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Robert Olejnik takes the free kick.

75:41

Outswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman, Taiwo Atieno makes a clearance.

73:56

Eunan O'Kane takes the free kick.

73:56 Booking

Booking Booking for Jack Payne.

73:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Payne on Eunan O'Kane.

72:30

Charlie Lee crosses the ball.

71:20

Corner taken by Eunan O'Kane from the left by-line played to the near post, Charlie Lee makes a clearance.

70:14 Substitution

Substitution Curtis Weston goes off and Charlie Lee comes on.

69:07

Rene Howe concedes a free kick for a foul on Jack Evans. Paulo Gazzaniga restarts play with the free kick.

66:54

The ball is crossed by Chris Whelpdale, Brian Saah manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Danny Jackman played to the near post, Rene Howe makes a clearance.

62:50 Substitution

Substitution Ian Morris goes off and Taiwo Atieno comes on.

62:21

Centre by Danny Kedwell, clearance by Mark Ellis.

62:12

Chris Whelpdale takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Ellis.

60:20

The ball is swung over by Danny Stevens, Paulo Gazzaniga makes a save.

59:38

Unfair challenge on Ian Morris by Danny Jackman results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Nicholson.

57:21

Effort on goal by Simon King from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

56:37

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Blocked by Damon Lathrope. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Jackman, clearance by Rene Howe.

56:24

The ball is crossed by Lee Mansell, save made by Paulo Gazzaniga.

54:56

Ian Morris produces a cross, save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

53:58

Effort from outside the penalty box by Jack Evans goes wide left of the goal.

53:09

Headed effort from inside the area by Lee Mansell misses to the right of the goal.

50:57

Danny Kedwell provided the assist for the goal.

50:57 Goal scored

Goal - Simon King - Gillingham 1 - 0 Torquay Simon King finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Gillingham 1-0 Torquay.

50:32

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Blocked by Damon Lathrope. Outswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman from the left by-line,

49:47

Curtis Weston fouled by Rene Howe, the ref awards a free kick. Curtis Weston takes the free kick.

48:54

Inswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman from the right by-line.

48:05

Centre by Curtis Weston. Corner taken by Danny Jackman from the left by-line to the near post.

47:10

Eunan O'Kane produces a cross, Simon King makes a clearance.

45:41

Corner from left by-line taken by Kevin Nicholson.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:14 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:53

Jo Kuffour crosses the ball.

43:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Curtis Weston on Eunan O'Kane. Damon Lathrope restarts play with the free kick.

40:54

Kevin Nicholson takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Mark Ellis goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

39:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Curtis Weston on Rene Howe. Direct free kick taken by Lee Mansell.

36:23

Rene Howe concedes a free kick for a foul on Paulo Gazzaniga. Indirect free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

36:07

The ball is sent over by Danny Jackman. Centre by Danny Kedwell, clearance by Lee Mansell.

34:27

Chris Whelpdale takes a shot. Lee Mansell gets a block in.

32:46

Brian Saah challenges Jo Kuffour unfairly and gives away a free kick. Curtis Weston crosses the ball in from the free kick.

31:50

Foul by Simon King on Lee Mansell, free kick awarded. Kevin Nicholson takes the direct free kick.

31:04

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Gavin Tomlin misses to the left of the target.

30:52

Danny Stevens takes a shot. Save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

29:45

Ian Morris takes a shot. Paulo Gazzaniga makes a save.

29:17

Unfair challenge on Damon Lathrope by Danny Kedwell results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin Nicholson.

24:27

Header from deep inside the area by Jo Kuffour goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

24:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Ellis on Jo Kuffour. Curtis Weston takes the free kick.

22:40

Gavin Tomlin challenges Mark Ellis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

22:32

Centre by Chris Whelpdale, Lee Mansell manages to make a clearance.

21:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gavin Tomlin on Damon Lathrope. Kevin Nicholson restarts play with the free kick.

19:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gavin Tomlin on Lee Mansell. Brian Saah takes the indirect free kick.

17:57

The ball is delivered by Jo Kuffour, Chris Whelpdale takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a save.

17:49

Jo Kuffour sends in a cross, Damon Lathrope manages to make a clearance.

17:30

Rene Howe takes a shot. Save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

16:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Kedwell on Kevin Nicholson. Kevin Nicholson takes the free kick.

14:14

Gavin Tomlin has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

11:13

Chris Whelpdale sends in a cross, clearance by Mark Ellis.

10:48

Outswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman from the left by-line played to the near post, Brian Saah makes a clearance.

8:28

Foul by Danny Kedwell on Eunan O'Kane, free kick awarded. Kevin Nicholson takes the free kick.

8:11

Curtis Weston sends in a cross, Joe Oastler manages to make a clearance.

7:22

Unfair challenge on Simon King by Rene Howe results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Connor Essam.

6:37

Effort from the edge of the box by Rene Howe goes wide of the right-hand upright.

6:05

Jack Payne sends in a cross, save by Robert Olejnik.

5:31

Shot by Jack Payne. Mark Ellis gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Jackman from the right by-line to the near post, Kevin Nicholson makes a clearance.

4:48

Connor Essam takes the free kick.

4:48 Booking

Booking Rene Howe is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

4:32

Foul by Rene Howe on Connor Essam, free kick awarded.

3:11

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Blocked by Damon Lathrope.

2:37

Handball by Lee Mansell. Danny Jackman takes the free kick.

1:14

Danny Stevens produces a cross, save made by Paulo Gazzaniga.

0:47

The ball is delivered by Jack Evans, Brian Saah manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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