Gavin Peacock’s double delivered a vital away win for relegation-threatened Gillingham as they triumphed over Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The transfer-listed midfielder, who made the difference against Wigan Athletic as a substitute on Friday, picked up off where he left off to poach a precious three points and add plenty of pounds to his asking price as suitors scramble to secure his signature for next season. He would have gone home with the match ball had referee Peter Foakes been better placed to spot that Fulham goalkeeper Laurence Batty had failed to prevent Peacock’s header from crossing the line.
The Gills’ first pair of back-to-back wins since the end of September were fully merited as they surprised the promotion-chasing hosts with the most complete display since Keith Burkinshaw took over at Priestfield in October. The frustration is that is probably too late to prevent Gillingham from slipping into the Fourth Division, but it does show what potential the Kent-based side have in their ranks. The win was all the more impressive as the Cottagers had gone in front against the run of play.
The hosts had looked timid in the final third until Ray Lewington replaced the ineffectual Clive Walker with Colin Gordon. The tall striker needed only sixty seconds to make an impact by winning possession on the halfway line and fed striker partner Gordon Davies, who set up John Marshall to hammer a fine finish past the helpless Gillingham goalkeeper Ron Hillyard.
But the rock-bottom visitors hit back within eight minutes when a rash decision from Jeff Eckhardt saw the defender dive in on Francis Joseph. The forward rode the tackle and found David Smith, who got behind Richard Langley and delivered a cross into the near post, where Peacock clinically converted to level the local derby. Gillingham overcome the disappointment of a serious injury to substitute Lindon Guscott to complete the comeback when Langley’s poor clearance fell kindly for Peacock to power home from twelve yards out with eleven minutes left.
FULHAM: Batty; Thomas, Eckhardt, Rougvie, Langley, Marshall, Skinner, Wilson (Sayer 81), Walker (Gordon 62), Cole, Davies.
GOAL: Marshall (63).
GILLINGHAM: Hillyard; Burley, Stimson, Peacock, O’Shea, Reeves, Williams (Guscott 68; Manuel 77), Francis, Gavin, Docker, Smith.
GOALS: Peacock (71, 79).
REFEREE: Peter Foakes (Essex).
ATTENDANCE: 6,476.
