GILLINGHAM 3 (Miller 9, Bentley 30, Bromby OG 33), UNITED 2 (Becchio 45, Beckford 86 pen)

Gillingham: Julian, Jackman, Bentley, Nutter, Dennehy, Weston (Jackson 72), Miller, Fuller (Payne 4), Oli, Howe, Barcham. Subs not used: Royce, Maher, Essam, Wynter, Dickson..

United: Higgs, Bromby, Naylor, Collins, Hughes (Parker 56), Howson, Doyle, Kilkenny, Snodgrass (Snodgrass 56), Becchio (Watt 77), Gradel. Subs: Ankergren, Grella, McSheffrey, Lowry.

Referee: A Wiley

Booked: Payne (Gillingham), Collins, Gradel (Leeds)

Att: 9649 (2241 Leeds)

Leeds United manager Simon Grayson named an unchanged team as his side looked to make it four successive wins to strengthen the grip on the automatic promotion places.

Gillingham were without Josh Gowling at the back and they suffered another defensive blow inside the opening two minutes when Barry Fuller was forced out of the action. 

But it was the hosts who rocked Leeds inside the opening 10 minutes when Adam Miller pounced on a loose clearance and his effort looped beyond Shane Higgs to make it 1-0.

United responded immediately, and Max Gradel had an effort saved by Alan Julian after good work by Luciano Becchio,

Priestfield had never been a happy hunting ground for Leeds and when a Renee Howe shot rattled the post, referee Alan Wiley mysteriously awarded a corner.

The early goal had rattled Leeds and Neill Collins was booked inside the opening 20 minutes for hauling down the lively Howe after the striker threatened to break clear again.

When United came forward, a Robert Snodgrass free-kick skidded through the wall, but Richard Naylor was unable to get a shot in.

But Gillingham were celebrating again on the half-hour when Mark Bentley was able to rise unchallenged to head home a free-kick from close range to double their advantage.

Gillingham's front-two were causing Leeds problems and sloppy mistakes were hindering Grayson's side from finding any fluency.

Three minutes later it was 3-0. Former Leeds player Curtis Weston crossed the ball in to the penalty area, and Naylor's headed clearance came back off Leigh Bromby past a stranded Higgs.

United were in something of a pickle, but given that the damage was largely self-inflicted, there had to be hope that Grayson's men could turn things around.

And Becchio gave Leeds that hope on 45 minutes when he pulled a goal back. The striker latched on to an Andrew Hughes ball and coolly converted to drag United back into the contest moments before the break.

With Millwall having lost on Friday, and all United's promotion rivals trailing at half-time, the second 45 minutes offered a massive opportunity for Grayson's men.

Gradel was first to try his luck in the second period when he had a shot blocked after cutting in from the left touchline. Becchio also headed wide as United started to look more of a threat.

And 10 minutes into the second period, Grayson made a double change. Ben Parker replaced Hughes and Jermaine Beckford replaced Snodgrass as United changed to a 3-4-3 system.

Parker, playing on the left side of midfield, had an early cross blocked following his arrival as United continued to chase the game by looking to apply the pressure.

As the game headed past the hour-mark Neil Kilkenny was next to try his luck when he sent a shot fizzing over the top after Gillingham failed to clear a long throw from Bromby. Kilkenny also teed up Parker for a shot which was just wide of the mark.

It took some good defending to cut out an incisive ball from Beckford to Becchio and when Collins started weaving his way down the wing, Miller made a decisive challenge.

United were also being penalised for everything. John Nutter won free-kicks against both Gradel and Howson that seemed dubious, and Beckford was also penalised for attempting to win the ball through a ruck of players.

With 13 minutes left on the clock, Grayson made his final change, throwing on Sanchez Watt in place of Becchio.

Leeds were enjoying the lions share of the possession, but Gillingham were defending in numbers and were soaking up pressure and nullifying any real threat from Leeds.

Then, with five minutes remaining, Beckford won a penalty after he was caught after the ball.  The striker duly stepped up and smashed home a low penalty to give United hope.

United came pouring forward again, Watt the instigator, and with Beckford and Micky Doyle looking to pounce on a bouncing ball, play was halted for an infringement.

Next, a Collins cross was deflected to safety when two United men were waiting to pounce in the six-yard box, and Leeds clearly believed an equaliser would come.

Four minutes were added as the clock ticked past the 90-mark and when Higgs launched a ball forward, the referee somehow missed Darren Dennehy climbing all over Beckford.

Moments later the whistle sounded to end United's hopes of a comeback.