Accrington 7-4 Gillingham

Phil Edwards scored two penalties as Accrington saw off Gillingham in a thrilling encounter.

Sean McConville gave the hosts the lead, the Gills hitting back with two neat finishes from Mark Bentley.

Andy Parkinson and Charlie Barnett put Stanley back in front before Cody McDonald's solo effort made it 3-3.

Edwards' penalties and Terry Gornell put the hosts in charge before Bentley was sent off between an Ade Akinfenwa penalty and a James Ryan strike.

It was pulsating stuff, with five goals in the first half and six in the second.

Accrington drew first blood when McConville slotted home Gornell's cross, but Gillingham hit back with two Bentley goals in three minutes, first flicking home a long throw and then rifling home a loose ball from 15 yards.

Even then the Gills' lead lasted only three minutes as Gornell played in Parkinson to blast home his first Football League goal for three years.

606: DEBATE Welcome Accrington to membership of a select few clubs who can put seven past the gills atcham jack

Bentley missed chances to complete his hat-trick before Bennett sent the home side in 3-2 up at the break when his cross-shot found the roof of the net.

Gillingham, without a win on their travels in 17 months, were back level when McDonald raced half the length of the pitch to chip over keeper Ian Dunbavin, but they self destructed when they conceded two penalties in four minutes.

Bentley was ruled to have pushed Andy Procter in the box and Edwards sent keeper Lance Cronin the wrong way, and in the very next attack Gornell was tripped by Josh Gowling and Edwards made no mistake.

Gornell then beat the Gillingham offside trap to slot home his side's sixth, but the visitors gave themselves an outside chance when Dunbavin fouled McDonald and Akinfenwa sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Tempers boiled over when Ryan was booked for a late tackle and in the ensuing melee Bentley was shown a second yellow card and Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell was sent from the dug out by referee Iain Williamson for getting involved.

But in injury time, Ryan finally settled the contest when he raced into the area and blasted the ball home.

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent:
"I'm devastated, I can't believe it. We've conceded one goal in four matches and then concede seven goals in one game. What's going on?

"We've got to sort it out, it's not acceptable. People come a long way to see us perform.

"Defensively we weren't good enough. Things have got to happen, things have got to change or we can forget about promotion because we're nowhere near it on that performance.

"We've got to learn quickly or it will be a tough season for us."

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