Crewe Alexandra 4 Gillingham 3

GILLINGHAM left Gresty Road with nothing after Crewe produced a stunning comeback to edge a seven-goal thriller on Saturday.

Luke Varney netted the winner from close range deep into stoppage time, but that hardly tells the story as the Gills still led 3-2 with just four minutes to play.

The visitors deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes when the recalled Alan Pouton's delected left-foot drive from 25-yards flew high past Crewe keeper Ben Williams.

The Gills doubled their advantage seven minutes later when captain Mike Flynn produced an excellent shot from the edge of the box after Dean McDonald had headed into his path.

The home side pulled a goal back 10 minutes before half-time when Ryan Lowe played in top scorer Nicky Maynard who coolly beat Scott Flinders.

Gillingham's two-goal lead was restored in first half stoppage time when McDonald produced a fine turn and finish after strike partner Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu crossed from the by-line.

However, substitute Rodney Jack got Crewe back into the game with 22 minutes to play when he matched the first half efforts of Pouton and Flynn with a superb right-footed shot from 25 yards.

Then substitute Danny O'Donnell headed in Michael O'Connor's cross in the 86th minute before Varney's late show broke Gillingham's hearts.

Gillingham: Flinders, Jupp, Cox, Johnson, Bentley, Pouton (Clohessy 79), Flynn, Easton, Jarvis, Ndumbu-Nsungu, McDonald (Spiller 70).
Subs not used: Jackman, Savage, Collin.

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