Danny Jackman battles with former Gills man Kevin Maher Pic:Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham’s impressive unbeaten run came to a halt at Dagenham on Friday night.

Danny Kedwell struck early in the game but the Daggers turned it around with a goal in each half to win the game 2-1.

Just four days after beating table-topping Crawley the Gills slumped to defeat at lowly Dagenham.

The Gills hadn’t lost a game in their previous nine and were ahead after seven minutes thanks to a mistake from home keeper Chris Lewington, who dropped a routine catch into the path of Chris Whelpdale.

The subsequent shot from Whelpdale was saved but Kedwell smashed home the follow-up.

Whelpdale was a surprise name on the teamsheet for the Gills after making a remarkable recovery from his sickening injury at Crawley on Boxing Day.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men had the ascendancy after a tentative start and they should have extended their lead during a dominant period of play.

Lewington redeemed himself a little with a flying save from Kedwell and he was there again to tip over Garry Richards’ header.

The Gills, backed by 1,300 fans, continued to put the pressure on and Danny Jackman struck the post direct from a corner.

Dagenham survived the onslaught and levelled the game on 23 minutes, with a goal from nothing, as Billy Bingham picked up a lose ball on the edge of the area and stroked the ball home low past Ross Flitney.

Chances came at either end for the rest of the half. Kedwell came close with a header and at the other end Flitney raced out to save from Jon Nurse.

The Gills had Whelpdale to thank for keeping the scores level at the start of the second half when he cleared Richard Rose’s header off the line.

Curtis Weston (pictured) was threatening at the other end. He bundled one chance just wide of the post and later on, after chasing Flitney’s long ball forward, it needed a save from Lewington to deny him as he closed in on goal.

With 65 minutes on the clock the Daggers took the lead after Brian Woodall gathered a cross field pass on the edge of the box and curled it beyond Flitney into the bottom corner.

The Gills failed to show the spark they did early in the game and failed to get back onto the scoresheet.

Gillingham: Flitney, Martin (Montrose 74mins), Lawrence, Frampton, Richards, J Payne, Jackman, Whelpdale, Weston (S Payne 84mins), Kedwell (Oli 89mins), Kuffour. Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Rance.

Dagenham: Lewington, Doe, Rose, Nurse, Maher, Woodall, Bingham, Ilesanmi, Dominic Green, Montano, Spillane. Subs not used: Hogan, Elito, Geohaghon, Danny Green, Cunnington.

Attendance: 3,120

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