Gillingham 1, Southend United 2 (From Echo)

Gillingham 1, Southend United 2

9:47pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

SOUTHEND United returned to winning ways and the top of the League Two table with a 2-1 triumph at Gillingham tonight.

In front of the Sky Sports cameras, Liam Dickinson broke the deadlock for Blues before Gills defender Joe Martin slotted past his own goalkeeper.

And, despite a late strike from Gavin Tomlin which set up a nervous final few minutes, Paul Sturrock’s side were able to end a run of four games without a victory.

Southend took just 10 minutes to open the scoring at a freezing cold Priestfield Stadium when Sean Clohessy’s fine right wing cross was diverted in to the path of Dickinson by the recalled Kane Ferdinand.

The striker then did well to outmuscle former Blues defender Garry Richards and power the ball in to the back of the net from close range for his 12th goal of the season.

Four minutes later, Southend almost doubled their lead when a well struck 25 yard shot from Bilel Mohsni was palmed to safety by Gills goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

The home-side soon hit back with midfielder Lewis Montrose firing straight at Blues goalkeeper Glenn Morris with a low half volley from long range but, having survived the scare, Southend replied by doubling their lead in the 31st minute.

The move was started by Mohsni who played a fantastic cross field ball in to the path of David Martin who broke the offside trap and charged in to the left hand side of the penalty area.

His dangerous low cross was then stabbed past his own goalkeeper by Martin, the son of former Blues boss Alvin, from inside his own six yard box while under pressure from Ferdinand.

In a bid to get back in to the game, Gillingham made a double change at the break with both Jack Payne and Jack Evans entering the action.

But it was Southend who were initially on top with Martin fizzing a long range shot over the crossbar.

After that, both sides struggled to hold on to the ball and mount sustained periods of pressure but Blues never looked troubled by their hosts despite them enjoy more possession.

As a result, winger Danny Jackman had a powerful 25 yard shot bravely charged down by Southend skipper Chris Barker before the defender also cleared a scuffed effort from Jo Kuffour.

With the Gills remaining territorially on top, Tomlin soon made an opportunity for himself in the 66th minute as he skillfully moved the ball on to his right foot before unleashing a 16 yard shot which Morris did well to parry away.

Blues boss Paul Sturrock responded 60 seconds later by making his first change of the evening with Ryan Hall replacing Martin, who appeared to have picked up an injury, on the left flank.

However, Hall saw little of the ball as Southend sat deep to protect their lead before the replacement winger fired a rare shot wide of the left post from 20 yards in the 85th minute.

Two minutes later, Tomlin got Gills back in to the game as he burst in to the penalty area and thundered a terrific 18 yard shot in to the top right hand corner of the net.

That created a grandstand finish with the home-side pumping a number of long balls in to the box.

But, despite five minutes of added on time, Blues held on to a record a valuable victory.