Classic Match: Supersub!

Last updated : 05 April 2005 By Simon Head

Mark Saunders: Last-gasp winner

In arguably their best performance of the season so far, Gillingham won an incredible match at Portman Road, with Mark Saunders scoring a last-gasp winner in a 4-3 away win. Goals from Rod Wallace, Mama Sidibe and Paul Shaw were cancelled out by strikes from Ian Westlake, Pablo Counago and Tommy Miller, but Mark Saunders entered the fray in the dying minutes to strike a late, late winner with just 10 seconds left on the clock. It was an unbelievable match, with the Gills fully deserving of their result.

Rod Wallace opened the scoring after 14 minutes, finishing well after his initial header came back off the crossbar. However, their lead only lasted five minutes as Ian Westlake equalised following good work by Finnish international striker Shefki Kuqi. It was end-to-end stuff, with no respite for either team. Both Jason Brown and Kelvin Davies had a very busy day defending their respective goals and with the amount of chances created at each end, more goals were inevitable.

Gills continued to battle and, against the run of play, stole the lead right on the stroke of half time. After a sustained period of Ipswich pressure, player-manager Andy Hessenthaler broke from midfield and slid a great pass through to Mama Sidibe, who set himself and calmly shot past Davies. Gillingham were clearly holding their own against the First Division's form team - and hopes were high for a good result as the half-time whistle went with the Gills 2-1 to the good.

The second half brought even more drama than the first, with both teams flying forward in search of goals. Just ten minutes into the second period Gillingham scored a third. Great work by Sidibe set up Paul Shaw, who smashed the ball past Davies into the top corner of the net. Things looked rosy for the visitors, but Shaw's strike served only to spark Ipswich into action - and the Gills defence were at full stretch for large periods in the final third of the match.

With an hour gone, Jim Magilton's free kick was headed home by Spanish striker Pablo Counago to bring the Tractor Boys right back into the game. The home side continued to pressurise the Gills defence - and eventually they made the breakthrough they desperately wanted. Ipswich Fullback Fabian Wilnis burst forward and teed up substitute Tommy Miller, who finished well to send the Portman Road faithful into raptures.

With 15 minutes remaining, Gills were under pressure and Ipswich sensed victory. However, Gillingham, led by a superb performance by Mama Sidibe, refused to lie down and eventually shocked the former Premiership side with a last-gasp winner. Mark Saunders had only been on the field for ten minutes after replacing the tiring Shaw - and it was the midfield hard-man who had the final say in a pulsating match. In the final throws of stoppage time, Gills broke downfield and Nicky Southall got to the by-line and rolled the ball back for the onrushing Saunders, who beat Davies to seal a memorable victory and three valuable points for the Gills. It was an amazing finish to an amazing football match.

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