Gills Go Top After Second Half Comeback
Peterborough United were beaten 2-1 by Gillingham at Priestfield in Sky Bet League One action with Erhun Oztumer's first half goal cancelled out by Luke Norris with Bradley Dack firing a deflected winner midway through the second half.Graham Westley's men made a bright start with debutant Shaquile Coulthirst a huge influence in the opening exchanges, the former Tottenham man forcing a fine save out of goalkeeper Stuart Nelson with a deflected left footed effort.
Coulthirst showed some superb close control to force his way into the box after good work from Toffolo down the left, but he fired wide of the far post.
On 12 minutes, Erhun Oztumer fired over after a neat turn 25-yards from goal and moments later Souleymane Coulibaly nodded into the side-netting after a deep centre from Forrester.
Posh got the breakthrough on 26 minutes and it was a superbly worked set-piece routine, Taylor feeding the ball into Coulthirst who had moved away from the wall and he fed OZTUMER who rifled home a fine shot into the corner.
The hosts were close to levelling the scores on 38 minutes as John Egan rattled the angle of crossbar and bar with a fierce effort from 12-yards.
Two minutes of added time was signalled by the fourth official with the hosts pressing. The home side made two changes at the break and came close to levelling within three minutes with Samuel firing wide of the near post.
They found an equaliser on 50 minutes as the front two combined to great effect, Samuel finding NORRIS who slotted the ball past Alnwick with his left-foot.
Egan smacked the bar two minutes later from close-range with Norris firing the rebound over the bar as the Gills sensed they could get their noses in front quickly.
Substitute Adil Nabi smacked the bar with a stunning effort on 59 minutes with Angol clearly felled as the ball rebounded into his path, but the official waved away the protests.
Nabi then fed Coulthirst in a good position, but the striker saw his low shot saved by the legs of Nelson, while at the other end, Loft fired over when well placed.
On 65 minutes, the home side got themselves in front as DACK fired home with a deflected effort with his left-foot after taking advantage of a sloppy piece of defending.
Chris Forrester then hit the post with a stunning shot from 35-yards and then Taylor somehow planted a header wide of the target at the back post when well placed. Angol then headed a Maddison cross over the bar.
Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson, Garmston (sub Dickenson 46min), Egan, Ehmer, Hessenthaler (sub Loft 46min), Samuel, Morris, Norris (sub List 87min), Dack, Wright. Unused subs: Morris, McGlashan, Osadebe, Oldaker.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Almeida Santos, Baldwin, Toffolo, Forrester, Taylor, Samuelsen, Oztumer (sub Nabi 57min), Coulibaly (sub Angol 57min), Coulthirst (sub Madison 74min). Unused subs: Henry, Brisley, Beautyman, Wilson.
Half-time: Gillingham 0-1 Peterborough United
Full-time: Gillingham 2-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 6,449 (534 Posh)