Carlisle 2 Gillingham 0

GILLINGHAM remain without a point on the road following a 2-0 defeat at Carlisle in League 1 on Saturday.

A goal in each half left the Gills empty-handed from the long trip to Cumbria and caretaker boss Iffy Onuora felt the referee did little to help their efforts.

"I’m not one to harp on but the referee’s performance was poor," said Onuora.

"Simon Royce was fouled for the first goal, but it’s been given. Then the same thing happens at the other end and Chris Dickson scores a good goal, but he disallowed it.

"What the difference is only he can explain and after that if we had gone in 1-1 then it would have been a different game.

"I felt we matched them and their goalkeeper probably had more to do."

Gillingham went behind after 13 minutes when Ian Cox turned the ball into his own net after Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s corner fell at the feet of the defender. He was unable to do anything as the ball struck his leg and rolled into the net.

Dickson’s effort was ruled out for a push on a defender when going up for a header.

Gillingham went into the break a goal down and their hopes of coming back into it ended when Simon Hackney netted a long range effort from 30 yards.

The defeat was Gills’ sixth on the road this season and Onuora was keen to thank the travelling fans who made the long trip north.

He said: “We really appreciated the support from the fans and I want to thank them for making the trip and backing us.”

Gillingham: Royce, Clohessy (Graham 75mins), Sodje, Cox, King, Bentley, Southall, Crofts (Stone 73mins), Brown, Dickson (Mulligan 75mins), Facey. Subs not used: Jupp, Cogan