Live Commentary: Brentford 2-1 Gillingham - as it happened

Brentford have moved to the top of League One tonight with a 2-1 victory against Gillingham.

The home side went ahead when Jonathan Douglas steered the ball in from close range and doubled their lead through Marcello Trotta's second-half penalty.

Cody McDonald got one back for Gillingham, but the Bees held on for the win.

Read how the action unfolded below.

9.45pmThat's all from me tonight, but stay with us for lots of news and reaction. Goodbye!

9.43 pmThere's the full-time whistle and Brentford move to the top of League One, two points ahead of Leyton Orient. On another day, Gillingham might have come away with a draw, but overall the home side deserved to win.

90+4 minFULL TIME: BRENTFORD 2-1 GILLINGHAM

90+4 minSAVE! Another brilliant stop by Nelson as he pushes away Donaldson's fierce shot.

90+1 minNelson collects a weak Alan Judge shot as the home side continue to attack. However, I think we're almost done here.

90 minWe've got four minutes of added time. Is there one last chance for Gillingham to snatch a draw?

89 minAdam Barrett is down hurt following a collision with Donaldson, but I think he will be fine to carry on.

87 minGREAT CHANCE! What a great second half it's been at Griffin Park, and we should have had the fourth goal of the night, but after being played in by Akinfenwa, Marriott is unable to beat Button from about four yards out.

86 minOVER! It's almost 3-1 to the Bees! Chuba Akpom shows good skill and finds Judge, but his powerful shot from the edge of the box is inches over the bar!

83 minBidwell has been a constant threat for the home side and he again delivers a cross from the left. It's cleared, but he has been given far too much room all night.

80 minGILLINGHAM SUB: Jack Marriott makes his debut, replacing Steven Gregory.

78 minWIDE! Akinfenwa puts a header wide after a deep cross from the right. He might have done better, but at least the Gills are creating chances.

76 minThe away side are pushing for the equaliser and Barrett scuffs a shot before McDonald mis-hits a shot which goes wide.

72 minGame on now, but where on earth did that come from? Fagan does well to find McDonald in the box, who stays calm and beats Button in the Brentford goal. The goalkeeper gets a touch, but the ball has just enough pace to roll over the line.

72 minGOAL! BRENTFORD 2-1 GILLINGHAM (McDonald)

71 minBRENTFORD SUB: That is Trotta's last contribution as Chuba Akpom comes on.

69 minBarrett fouls Craig in the box and the referee points to the spot. Marcello Trotta steps up and easily beats Nelson to make it 2-0 to the home side.

69 minGOAL! BRENTFORD 2-0 GILLINGHAM (Trotta)

69 minPENALTY TO BRENTFORD!

68 minYELLOW CARD! Michael Harriman gets a booking for bringing down Donaldson.

64 minGREAT SAVE! Stuart Nelson has been in brilliant form tonight, and he's just made another crucial save. Donaldson runs through in the box and shrugs off Martin, but Nelson sticks out a leg and diverts the ball away from danger.

62 minGillingham have come back into this match in the last few minutes. McDonald does well on the left wing before he cuts inside and feeds Gregory, but the move comes to nothing.

58 minGILLINGHAM SUBS: A double change as Bradley Dack and Adebayo Akinfenwa come on for Myles Weston and Amine Linganzi.

55 minWIDE! Third time lucky for Trotta? Well, no. Saville is again the architect, picking out his teammate in the box. Despite getting a clean strike, the shot is way off target.

54 minSAVE! Brentford are very much on top at the start of this second half, and Nelson prevents them from adding to their lead with a good save from Judge's curling effort from outside the box.

53 minMISS! Another chance for Trotta, but another miss. Saville plays him in on the left hand side of the box, but he drives a shot wide of the post.

50 minFagan and McDonald link up well for Gillingham and Tony Craig's touch is heavy. The ball is loose and Button comes out to claim, but spills it. However, he makes up for his mistake and gets the ball out.

49 minSAVE! Brentford's positive play continues as Marcello Trotta beats a defender on the edge of the box before hitting a tame shot at Nelson. Either side of the goalkeeper and that would have been in.

47 minApparently Tony Craig has a suspected broken hand, but has decided to carry on.

46 minPositive start by the home side, as Alan Judge makes a run down the left and wins a thrown. That is cleared, however.

45 minKICKOFF! Brentford get us going in the second half.

8.50pmThe Gillingham players are back on the pitch and the second half is just seconds away.

8.45pmFor Brentford, Mark Warburton will be asking for more of the same in the second half. His players haven't been at their very best, but have done enough to warrant the lead.

8.42pmPeter Taylor will be pretty happy with how his team have performed so far. They have been competitive and created one great chance. However, they switched off and gave Douglas too much time and space.

8.40pmSTATS: In that first half the Bees had nine shots, three of which were on target. Their opponents had five shots, with four on target. Apparently, the away side just edged possession. From where I'm sitting, Brentford seemed to have more of the ball.

8.37pmAs it stands Brentford are going top of League One thanks to Jonathan Douglas's goal. It could have been more, but Cody McDonald missed a glorious to equalise for Gillingham.

45+3 minHALF TIME:BRENTFORD 1-0 GILLINGHAM

45 minWhat terrific defending by Barrett! The Gillingham defender throws himself in front of two shots to keep the score at 1-0. Brilliant play!

44 minGood work down the left sees Jake Bidwell get another cross in, but it's cleared for a corner. Bidwell takes it, and O'Connor heads wide from just a few yards out.

43 minThat's also cleared, but Brentford give it away and Nelson launches a high ball into the air.

41 minYELLOW CARD! Saville is booked for a tackle on Linganzi and the Gills have a free kick in a decent position. However, it's cleared for a corner.

40 minJust over five minutes to go before half time and the game has quietened down a little. Gillingham have shown plenty of promise, but are lacking quality in the final third.

36 minSHOT! Douglas hammers the ball at goal and it smacks Barrett in the face. The home fans want a penalty, but that was definitely his face, not handball!

34 minYELLOW CARD! Just before that, Steven Gregory was shown a yellow card.

33 minMISS! Oh dear. It should be 1-1, but it isn't. Fagan flicks the ball through to McDonald, who is one-on-one with Button. He just has to clip the ball over the goalkeeper, but instead decides to side foot it, and his shot goes wide. Great chance!

32 minWIDE! Judge gets the ball to Logan, who takes a touch before dragging his shot wide of Nelson's post.

29 minWarburton's men win a corner, which is eventually cleared and now the away side have the ball in midfield. Fair play to Gillingham, they have not let that opening goal stop them from playing their own game.

28 minStrangely, the home side look nervous in possession now. They have a free kick, however, on the far right.

24 minIt has been a positive response by the Gills, and Barrett sees his header easily saved by Button. There's no doubt that they are playing well enough to force an equaliser.

22 minThe home side have the lead, but it's poor defending. Bidwell goes down the left and delivers a decent cross to the middle. Douglas is in the right place at the right time and taps it in from close range.

22 minGOAL! BRENTFORD 1-0 GILLINGHAM (Jonathan Douglas)

20 minSAVE! This is some save by Nelson! The home side show their class with some quick, decisive passing, before the ball comes out to Judge. He hits it first time, but Nelson gets across to tip away his curling effort.

Written by

Gary Peters

Live Commentary: Brentford 2-1 Gillingham - as it happened

People mentioned in this article :

Teams mentioned in this article :

Brentford

Gillingham