Sutton United 2 Gillingham 1: Elkan Baggott scored an own goal in the League 2 match at Gander Green Lane; Robbie McKenzie levelled but Craig Eastmond wins it

Robbie McKenzie ended the long wait for a Gillingham league goal but Sutton beat them with a stoppage-time winner.

Elkan Baggott scored past his own keeper to put Sutton infront but a deserved equaliser came 12 minutes from time as the Gills ended a seven-game run in the league without a goal. McKenzie’s strike was the team’s first in 724 minutes of football but a 92nd minute goal from Craig Eastmond won it for the home side.

Gills manager Neil Harris made four changes to his team following their disappointing Boxing Day defeat to Colchester United. They created chances, scored a goal, but still lost. They ended 2022 with just seven league wins.

A reshuffle in attack saw Alex MacDonald, recent signing Callum Harriott and Scott Kashket brought in to try and change their luck infront of the goal. Mikael Mandron was dropped to the bench as Kashket was the man chosen to spearhead the attack against a big Sutton defensive unit.

Another blank infront of goal against Colchester made it a club record seven league games without scoring on Boxing Day but there were signs of that changing against Sutton.

The biggest chance of the first half fell to Jefferies, with a free header from Alex MacDonald’s cross which he nodded wide of the mark. Jefferies had been the centre of attention early on when his high challenge on Louis John resulted in a yellow card - there were many who felt the challenge deserved a red.

Robbie McKenzie also headed the wrong side of the post and Harriott’s powerful effort from distance was beaten away by the home keeper. At least the Gills were creating some chances early on, but it didn’t last.

The latter part of the first half was stop-start, a first pause in play coming after referee Thomas Parsons spoke to