Gillingham 1 Brighton 0

DELROY FACEY made it a winning start to the post Ronnie Jepson era at Gillingham as his late goal was enough to beat Brighton on Saturday.

A close fought game looked to be heading for stalemate, until Nicky Southall picked out Facey, who got the better of his marker and beat Michel Kuipers in the Brighton goal.

Iffy Onuora, who along with Mick Docherty took temporary charge of the side, admitted it was a close match and was delighted with the way his side defended.

Onuora said: "It was a very tight game but Delroy’s popped up with that goal and it’s all worked out well for us.

"The two centre halves were immense particularly, and the defence worked well as a unit, and they had to.

"We stretched their back four as well and both defences had a reasonable game - there was always going to be one goal that would decide it."

Neither side created much going forward but Gills fans will also be boosted by the club's first clean sheet of the season.

It could have been even better for Gillingham but Facey's stoppage-time effort came back off the upright.

The closest the Gills came before the break was a 25-yard shot by Steve Lomas which was well blocked by Kuipers.

Gillingham: Royce, Cox, Sodje, King (Armstrong 62), Southall, Brown (Cogan 81), Lomas, Crofts, Bentley, Facey, Mulligan (Graham 64).
Subs Not Used: Stillie, Clohessy.
Attendance: 6,118.

* For all the action and reaction from Priestfield see Monday's Medway Messenger.