Nottingham Forest's lingering First Division play-off hopes were finally
extinguished by Gillingham's emerging young striker Marlon King.
He plundered a deserved match winner 13 minutes from time to sentence Forest
to their ninth league home defeat of the season.
And it was no more than Gillingham deserved and in King they had the game's
outstanding individual.
His goal revealed all the potential that Gillingham clearly see in him for the
future.
He killed a superb cross-field ball from former Forest defender Chris Hope and
lashed a drive beyond Forest keeper Dave Beasant.
It was not the first time that King, who celebrated his 21st birthday earlier
in the week, had threatened the Forest goal.
In the fifth minute he was inches away from giving the visitors the lead when
he thundered an angled drive against the bar.
Gillingham continued to hold their own and King's strike partner, Iffy Onuora,
headed just over from a Marcus Browning cross.
Then King took centre stage once more with an instinctive header that flew
over the bar after Barry Ashby had headed on a corner from Nicky Southall.
Forest had their moments with Chris Doig and Stern John going close with
first-half headers and then Andy Johnson forced Vince Bartram into a fine save
just after the restart.
But King was not out of the action for long and nine minutes into the second
half he was denied a clear-cut penalty after being held back by Forest defender
Andy Gray.
The one bright spot for Forest was the return of Alan Rogers after a five
month lay-off and he created a chance which John headed over.
With Gillingham sensing they could snatch victory, they sent increasing
numbers forward and it paid rich dividends when King struck so decisively in the
77th minute.
Forest had chances in the last couple of minutes to snatch a point with Andy
Johnson forcing Bartram into another diving save and substitute Gary Jones shot
just over.
But it would have been a point Forest did not deserve and manager David Platt
has some work to do in the summer to generate genuine promotion hopes for next
season.
Teams
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Gray, Hjelde, Doig, Edds,
Williams (Rogers 52), Prutton (Jones 84), Andy Johnson,
Bart-Williams, John (Harewood 66), David Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Roche, Edwards.
Booked: Prutton, John.
Gillingham Bartram, Patterson (Rose 59), Smith, Ashby,
Southall, Nosworthy (Saunders 45), Browning, Pennock, Hope,
King, Onuora (Ipoua 69).
Subs Not Used: Lovell, Browne.
Booked: Patterson, Ashby, Browning.
Goals: King 78.
Att: 20,670
Ref: M Messias (York).
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