Substitute Deon Burton's penalty helped Gillingham overcome Dagenham and reclaim top spot in League Two.

Leon Legge scored his first Gills goal from close range after Myles Weston's free-kick deflected his way, despite appeals for offside.

Femi Ilesanmi levelled for the Daggers when he pounced on Legge's poor clearance to fire home after the break.

However, Burton slotted home from the spot after keeper Chris Lewington had fouled Anton Robinson to seal the win.

Defeat for their closest rivals Port Vale meant that the Gills moved to the top of the League Two table for the first time since January.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Gillingham manager Martin Allen told BBC Radio Kent:

"It was defending at its best. Everyone to a man stood firm, stood their ground and reduced them to very few chances.

"Our players responded very well (to the equaliser), stepped up another gear, got the goal, and we did what you could call park the bus. We shut up shop and the players kept going till the end.

"To hear the noise of the stadium, the atmosphere, and to send the supporters home happy is magic."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Gillingham

  • 01 Nelson
  • 02 Fish Booked (Dack - 81' )
  • 03 Martin
  • 06 Legge
  • 12 Frampton (Burton - 65' Booked )
  • 26 Barrett
  • 07 Whelpdale
  • 08 Lee Booked
  • 10 Robinson
  • 24 Weston
  • 29 McDonald (Gregory - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Forecast
  • 11 Williams
  • 18 Dack
  • 25 Richardson
  • 28 Gregory
  • 17 Birchall
  • 20 Burton

Dagenham & Redbridge

  • 01 Lewington Booked
  • 02 Wilkinson
  • 03 Ilesanmi
  • 04 Doe
  • 18 Hoyte (Reed - 90' )
  • 12 Elito (Caprice - 75' )
  • 15 Saunders (Green - 79' )
  • 17 Howell
  • 19 Ogogo
  • 07 Williams
  • 09 Strevens

Substitutes

  • 30 Seabright
  • 21 Caprice
  • 11 Green
  • 16 Maher
  • 24 Bingham
  • 14 Reed
  • 23 Woodall
Ref: Williamson

Match Stats

Shots

13 9

On target

7 4

Corners

7 8

Fouls

16 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:52 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +5:00

Myles Weston produces a cross, Deon Burton produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

90:00 +4:27

The ball is swung over by Dominic Green, Charlie Lee manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +3:42

Dominic Green takes a shot. Save by Stuart Nelson.

90:00 +3:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Leon Legge on Ben Strevens. Direct free kick taken by Luke Howell.

90:00 +1:29 Substitution

Substitution (Dag & Red) makes a substitution, with Jake Reed coming on for Gavin Hoyte.

89:18

Luke Howell has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

87:48

Luke Wilkinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leon Legge. Stuart Nelson takes the direct free kick.

87:29

Short corner taken by Jake Caprice from the left by-line.

86:50

Free kick taken by Luke Howell.

86:50 Booking

Booking Deon Burton goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

86:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Deon Burton on Luke Wilkinson.

86:05

The offside flag is raised against Anton Robinson. Free kick taken by Luke Wilkinson.

84:38

Myles Weston takes a shot. Save made by Chris Lewington.

84:02

Effort from the edge of the area by Sam Williams goes wide of the right-hand upright.

83:29

Inswinging corner taken by Dominic Green, Leon Legge makes a clearance.

83:10

A cross is delivered by Dominic Green, blocked by Joe Martin.

82:28

Corner taken left-footed by Dominic Green from the right by-line to the near post, save by Stuart Nelson.

81:37

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jake Caprice, clearance made by Leon Legge.

81:04

Foul by Deon Burton on Luke Wilkinson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Luke Wilkinson.

80:28 Substitution

Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Bradley Dack coming on for Matt Fish.

79:48

Header from close range by Luke Wilkinson clears the bar.

79:15

Dominic Green takes the free kick.

79:15 Booking

Booking Matt Fish is cautioned.

79:03

Dominic Green fouled by Matt Fish, the ref awards a free kick.

78:43

Sam Williams takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Nelson.

78:21 Substitution

Substitution Dominic Green on for Matthew Saunders.

77:34

A cross is delivered by Femi Ilesanmi, Joe Martin gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matthew Saunders played to the near post, clearance made by Charlie Lee.

75:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Abu Ogogo by Charlie Lee. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Saunders.

74:40 Substitution

Substitution Jake Caprice replaces Medy Elito.

73:13

Joe Martin takes a shot. Save by Chris Lewington.

72:04 Substitution

Substitution Steven Gregory is brought on as a substitute for Cody McDonald.

69:16

Luke Howell concedes a free kick for a foul on Charlie Lee. Matt Fish takes the direct free kick.

68:11 Booking

Booking Chris Lewington is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

67:33 Goal scored

Goal - Deon Burton - Gillingham 2 - 1 Dag & Red Placed penalty scored by Deon Burton. Gillingham 2-1 Dag & Red.

65:59

Foul by Chris Lewington on Anton Robinson, Penalty awarded.

65:14

The ball is swung over by Matt Fish, Charlie Lee has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

64:18 Substitution

Substitution Deon Burton replaces Andy Frampton.

62:16

Myles Weston delivers the ball.

60:20

Anton Robinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Medy Elito. Matthew Saunders crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Charlie Lee.

57:21

Foul by Leon Legge on Chris Lewington, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Chris Lewington.

57:02

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Myles Weston, Chris Lewington makes a save.

56:25

Corner taken right-footed by Anton Robinson from the left by-line, Charlie Lee takes a shot. Luke Howell gets a block in.

55:57

The referee blows for offside. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

54:41

The ball is crossed by Chris Whelpdale. Handball by Femi Ilesanmi. The ball is delivered by Anton Robinson, Headed effort from inside the area by Cody McDonald misses to the left of the goal.

53:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Charlie Lee on Abu Ogogo. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Saunders.

51:53

Sam Williams provided the assist for the goal.

51:53 Goal scored

Goal - Femi Ilesanmi - Gillingham 1 - 1 Dag & Red Femi Ilesanmi gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-1 Dag & Red.

50:41

The ball is crossed by Chris Whelpdale, Luke Wilkinson makes a clearance. Myles Weston decides to take a short corner.

49:45

Medy Elito delivers the ball, Matt Fish manages to make a clearance.

48:29

Unfair challenge on Myles Weston by Luke Wilkinson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Matt Fish.

45:26

Myles Weston gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Doe. Luke Wilkinson takes the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:39 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:52

Shot from outside the area by Gavin Hoyte misses to the left of the target.

45:00 +0:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Cody McDonald on Abu Ogogo. Chris Lewington restarts play with the free kick.

44:52

Effort from deep inside the area by Femi Ilesanmi misses to the right of the target.

42:31

Centre by Andy Frampton, Chris Lewington makes a save.

41:50

The ball is sent over by Femi Ilesanmi.

41:14

The ball is swung over by Joe Martin, Chris Whelpdale takes a shot. Save made by Chris Lewington.

40:30

Foul by Cody McDonald on Gavin Hoyte, free kick awarded. Chris Lewington takes the direct free kick.

37:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Martin by Matthew Saunders. Direct free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

35:54

Anton Robinson decides to take a short corner, Leon Legge produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

35:30

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Anton Robinson, Gavin Hoyte makes a clearance.

35:22

The referee blows for offside against Ben Strevens. Free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

28:46

Assist by Myles Weston.

28:46 Goal scored

Goal - Leon Legge - Gillingham 1 - 0 Dag & Red A goal is scored by Leon Legge from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-0 Dag & Red.

28:33

The ball is sent over by Myles Weston,

32:53

Effort from outside the penalty area by Matt Fish goes wide left of the goal.

31:05

Inswinging corner taken by Myles Weston from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Ben Strevens. Myles Weston takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Gavin Hoyte.

30:58

Joe Martin crosses the ball, clearance by Femi Ilesanmi.

30:31

Matthew Saunders sends in a cross, clearance by Matt Fish.

28:46

Assist on the goal came from Myles Weston.

28:46 Goal scored

Goal - Charlie Lee - Gillingham 1 - 0 Dag & Red Charlie Lee scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-0 Dag & Red.

28:33

Myles Weston produces a cross,

27:51

The referee blows for offside against Leon Legge. Direct free kick taken by Chris Lewington.

27:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Abu Ogogo on Andy Frampton. Matt Fish takes the direct free kick.

27:05

Chris Whelpdale takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Doe.

25:44

Cody McDonald takes a shot. Scott Doe gets a block in.

24:56

Scott Doe restarts play with the free kick.

24:56 Booking

Booking Charlie Lee receives a yellow card.

24:48

Gavin Hoyte fouled by Charlie Lee, the ref awards a free kick.

23:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Martin by Luke Howell. Stuart Nelson takes the direct free kick.

22:52

Medy Elito delivers the ball, Leon Legge manages to make a clearance.

20:31

Unfair challenge on Joe Martin by Luke Howell results in a free kick. Anton Robinson takes the direct free kick.

18:31

Charlie Lee sends in a cross, Scott Doe manages to make a clearance.

18:02

Ben Strevens concedes a free kick for a foul on Charlie Lee. Andy Frampton restarts play with the free kick.

17:06

Matt Fish produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

16:42

Centre by Femi Ilesanmi, clearance made by Chris Whelpdale.

16:17

Centre by Medy Elito. Medy Elito produces a cross, Charlie Lee makes a clearance.

15:34

Corner taken by Matthew Saunders from the left by-line to the near post, Leon Legge manages to make a clearance.

14:02

Myles Weston is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Luke Wilkinson.

13:16

Abu Ogogo takes a shot. Blocked by Matt Fish. Corner taken right-footed by Matthew Saunders, save made by Stuart Nelson.

12:56

Medy Elito delivers the ball, blocked by Chris Whelpdale.

12:36

Cody McDonald is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Luke Wilkinson takes the free kick.

11:39

Medy Elito is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

10:43

Sam Williams fouled by Adam Barrett, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Wilkinson.

10:31

Andy Frampton crosses the ball, Luke Howell manages to make a clearance.

9:19

Charlie Lee gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gavin Hoyte. Direct free kick taken by Chris Lewington.

8:35

Myles Weston produces a cross, save made by Chris Lewington.

7:36

Unfair challenge on Charlie Lee by Ben Strevens results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

5:56

Centre by Charlie Lee, Scott Doe manages to make a clearance.

3:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Charlie Lee on Matthew Saunders. Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Saunders from right wing, Chris Whelpdale makes a clearance.

2:00

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Saunders from the left by-line to the near post, Charlie Lee manages to make a clearance.

1:00

Charlie Lee gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Williams. Gavin Hoyte restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association