Leo Fortune-West’s late winner condemned Fulham to another damaging defeat as Gillingham claimed the bragging rights by dramatically winning this derby at Priestfield.
Both managers refused to comment on the eccentric performance of referee Mike Bailey, who sent off two players and showed ten yellow cards despite presiding over a match that was highly-charged but not at all dirty. The referee needed a police escort from the field at the end – and that became the major talking point rather than the way in which Fortune-West snatched all three points for the Gills.
Fulham finished the contest with nine players, although they strenuously denied that any ill-feeling from a tempestuous meeting last season had spilled off into this encounter. Nick Cusack saw red after apparently elbowing Mark Harris before on-loan Sunderland midfielder was dismissed for a bad challenge on Martin O’Connor. But the Whites looked to edging towards an eleventh league draw of a dismal campaign until Fortune-West intervened late on.
The big, burly striker bustled beyond Kevin Moore and fired a fine finish past the helpless Tony Lange with five minutes to play. Prior to that moment of magic, the home side looked laboured and heavy legged. They had missed a penalty, awarded when Moore upended Dennis Bailey, five minutes before the break as Lange saved a tame spot-kick from Bailey – his second such failure in as many matches at Priestfield.
Lange kept the scores level with an excellent fingertip save to keep out Paul Watson’s free-kick, whilst Gray came closest at the other end when his shot – which looked likely to nestle in the far corner – was deflected just wide.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Gray, Moore, Angus, Thomas, Morgan, Conroy, Brazil, Hamill. Subs: Brooker, Taylor, Bolt.
BOOKED: Morgan, Cusack, Brazil.
SENT OFF: Cusack, Gray.
REFEREE: Mike Bailey (Cambridge)
ATTENDANCE: 7,704
