League Two leaders Gillingham beat Southend to remain top of the division despite ending the match with 10 men.

Danny Kedwell scored the only goal of the game when he converted a penalty after Bradley Dack had been brought down in the area by John Spicer.

But substitute Dack was then sent off for a bad challenge on Mark Phillips.

Southend, who had goalkeeper Paul Smith carried off early on, had chances but Britt Assombalonga headed over and Stuart Nelson denied Gavin Tomlin.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Gillingham boss Martin Allen told BBC Radio Kent:

"What a night it was. It was backs to the wall but we defended rigidly. All of them worked hard.

"They're fit. When they're fit they make better decisions. We had a young team out there. It was a great win and a great atmosphere.

"They'll probably be in the play-offs. Everyone to man stood their ground and battled right to the end."

Southend manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"It's a difficult place to come, they're the form team at the moment but their goalie had more saves to make than our goalie.

"I was a bit disappointed with our final cross, our final pass, our final finish in the second half.

"The penalty was soft - it was just two people coming together in the box.

"(We should have had) one at the other end, he's claiming Tims (Michael Timlin) lowered his head, he didn't lower his head that much and the boy's raised his foot and whacked him in the face. In the end those decisions are key in the game."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Gillingham

  • 01 Nelson
  • 02 Fish
  • 03 Martin
  • 15 Davies
  • 26 Barrett
  • 28 Wright
  • 07 Whelpdale
  • 08 Lee (Dack - 6' Dismissed )
  • 14 Allen (Strevens - 73' )
  • 09 Kedwell
  • 20 Burton (Frampton - 54' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Forecast
  • 06 Flanagan
  • 12 Frampton
  • 16 Montrose
  • 18 Dack
  • 10 Strevens
  • 17 Birchall

Southend United

  • 01 Smith (Bentley - 18' )
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 06 Cresswell
  • 15 Phillips (Straker - 46' )
  • 23 Barker
  • 08 Timlin Booked
  • 11 Martin Booked (Benyon - 77' )
  • 14 Hurst
  • 19 Spicer
  • 20 Assombalonga
  • 21 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 17 Bentley
  • 03 Straker
  • 05 Coughlan
  • 30 Woodyard
  • 07 Eastwood
  • 24 Benyon
  • 32 Njie
Ref: Phil Gibbs
Att: 4,920

Match Stats

Shots

5 14

On target

1 5

Corners

4 7

Fouls

14 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:13 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +1:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Martin by Chris Barker. Joe Martin restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:05

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, clearance by Adam Barrett.

89:23

Sean Clohessy crosses the ball, Matt Fish manages to make a clearance.

87:57

Shot by Kevan Hurst from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

87:24

Inswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst, Danny Kedwell manages to make a clearance.

86:51

Corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the right by-line, Adam Barrett manages to make a clearance.

84:48

The official flags Ben Strevens offside. Free kick taken by Chris Barker.

83:49

Sean Clohessy takes a shot. Save by Stuart Nelson.

83:00

Ben Strevens gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Barker. Free kick taken by Daniel Bentley.

82:15

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

81:42

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Save by Stuart Nelson.

81:18

A cross is delivered by Sean Clohessy, clearance made by Chris Whelpdale.

79:24

The ball is swung over by Sean Clohessy.

78:10

The ball is sent over by Anthony Straker, Ryan Cresswell takes a shot. Stuart Nelson makes a save.

75:51 Substitution

Substitution (Southend) makes a substitution, with Elliot Benyon coming on for David Martin.

75:51

David Martin crosses the ball, Shot by Britt Assombalonga from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

75:35

David Martin delivers the ball, clearance made by Adam Barrett.

75:13

Danny Kedwell challenges Ryan Cresswell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Cresswell.

74:44

Ben Strevens concedes a free kick for a foul on Gavin Tomlin. David Martin restarts play with the free kick.

74:23

Chris Whelpdale takes a shot. Save by Daniel Bentley.

72:00 Substitution

Substitution Charlie Allen leaves the field to be replaced by Ben Strevens.

72:00

Short corner taken by Kevan Hurst, Effort from inside the area by Kevan Hurst misses to the right of the target.

70:47

Chris Whelpdale handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Kevan Hurst crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Adam Barrett.

69:47

Centre by Sean Clohessy, clearance by Charlie Allen.

68:00

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Nelson.

67:30

Kevan Hurst sends in a cross, clearance made by Adam Barrett.

66:43

Kevan Hurst sends in a cross, Matt Fish makes a clearance.

65:41

Effort on goal by Gavin Tomlin from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

60:59

Foul by Danny Kedwell on Chris Barker, free kick awarded. Sean Clohessy restarts play with the free kick.

60:17

David Martin crosses the ball.

59:41

Inswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line.

57:34

Chris Whelpdale has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

56:04

The ball is swung over by Sean Clohessy.

53:18 Substitution

Substitution Deon Burton goes off and Andy Frampton comes on.

53:18

Britt Assombalonga has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

52:23

Deon Burton produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

48:03

Gavin Tomlin concedes a free kick for a foul on Charlie Allen. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

47:43

Foul by Charlie Allen on Michael Timlin, free kick awarded. Daniel Bentley takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Straker replaces Mark Phillips.

45:00 +11:11 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +8:01 Dismissal

Dismissal Bradley Dack is sent off by the referee for violent conduct.

45:00 +7:15

Bradley Dack challenges Mark Phillips unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Bentley takes the free kick.

45:00 +6:21

Centre by Joe Martin.

45:00 +5:08

Shot from just outside the box by David Martin misses to the left of the goal.

45:00 +4:41

Corner taken by Kevan Hurst, clearance by David Wright.

45:00 +2:51 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Kedwell - Gillingham 1 - 0 Southend Danny Kedwell scores a power penalty. Gillingham 1-0 Southend.

45:00 +1:44

Bradley Dack fouled by John Spicer, the ref awards a Penalty.

45:00 +0:59

Shot from outside the area by Bradley Dack misses to the left of the target.

42:05

The ball is crossed by David Martin, Callum Davies makes a clearance.

39:14

Shot by Chris Whelpdale from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.

39:14

Shot by Chris Whelpdale from outside the box goes over the target.

37:48

Danny Kedwell crosses the ball.

36:31

David Martin delivers the ball, Header from deep inside the area by Kevan Hurst goes over the bar.

35:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Britt Assombalonga by Adam Barrett. Kevan Hurst delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Adam Barrett manages to make a clearance.

33:58

Foul by Charlie Allen on John Spicer, free kick awarded. Ryan Cresswell takes the free kick.

33:41

The official flags David Martin offside. Free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

31:40

The ball is sent over by Kevan Hurst, Gavin Tomlin has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Save made by Stuart Nelson. Outswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the right by-line, Danny Kedwell makes a clearance.

29:41

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, save by Stuart Nelson.

27:49 Booking

Booking Michael Timlin is shown a yellow card.

27:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Fish by Michael Timlin. Stuart Nelson takes the direct free kick.

25:33

Gavin Tomlin fouled by Adam Barrett, the ref awards a free kick. Kevan Hurst delivers the ball, Header from deep inside the area by Britt Assombalonga goes over the bar.

25:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Bentley by Deon Burton. Free kick taken by Daniel Bentley.

24:14

Corner taken right-footed by Charlie Allen.

23:41

Bradley Dack fouled by Kevan Hurst, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

22:51

Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

22:51 Booking

Booking The referee shows David Martin a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

22:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Fish by David Martin.

19:43

Charlie Allen concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevan Hurst. Free kick crossed right-footed by Kevan Hurst, Danny Kedwell makes a clearance.

18:56

Danny Kedwell challenges Mark Phillips unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Bentley takes the free kick.

18:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bradley Dack by John Spicer. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

17:02 Substitution

Substitution (Southend) makes a substitution, with Daniel Bentley coming on for Paul Smith.

8:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Whelpdale by David Martin. Free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

7:47

Corner taken right-footed by Charlie Allen, John Spicer makes a clearance.

6:24

Corner from the right by-line taken by Charlie Allen, clearance by Mark Phillips. Corner taken by Charlie Allen, save by Paul Smith.

5:28 Substitution

Substitution Bradley Dack replaces Charlie Lee.

4:57

Effort from just outside the area by Michael Timlin goes over the bar.

2:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Cresswell by Danny Kedwell. Ryan Cresswell restarts play with the free kick.

0:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Whelpdale on John Spicer. Kevan Hurst delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Danny Kedwell manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst, save made by Stuart Nelson.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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