Gillingham 3-3 Southend - 26-Aug-2017 : Match Report

26 August 2017 05:09
Tom Eaves hat-trick gives Gills point from Southend draw

Tom Eaves bagged a hat-trick to help Gillingham secure a 3-3 draw at home to Southend.

Eaves netted twice at the start of the second half before scoring his third goal 10 minutes from time to ensure Gills claimed their first point of the Sky Bet League One season.

The Shrimpers took the lead in the 20th minute when Ryan Leonard hooked the ball home after Tomas Holy had dropped a cross from Jermaine McGlashan.

Gills hit back, though, with Eaves heading home Mark Byrne's cross in the 56th minute before he also nodded home a cross from Connor Ogilvie in the 63rd minute to put the home side in front.

Southend equalised just two minutes later with Michael Kightly volleying home before Phil Brown's side regained the lead in the 73rd minute when Simon Cox bundled the ball home after Theo Robinson's shot had hit the bar.

But Robinson then brought Byrne down in the box, enabling Eaves to complete his hat-trick as he fired home after initially having his penalty saved by Mark Oxley.

Source: PA