Taylor savours three points

Gillingham boss Peter Taylor believes his side's 2-1 victory at fellow strugglers Colchester could prove vital.

First-half goals from Joe Martin and Bradley Dack lifted the Gills three points above the relegation zone and deepened the U's relegation fears, despite Sammie Szmodics' consolation. Taylor said: "I think we needed to get something from this game and we're delighted with three points. "Sometimes you get it right and other times you don't get it right. "At the start of the match Colchester had some good play but all of a sudden we calmed down, kept the ball and created some good moves. "I thought for half an hour in the first half we got it right. "We scored twice and I said to them at half-time that we need to go out and get the third goal. "But we were nowhere near it in the second half - they scored a goal early and we were nervy. "We were up against it and the crowd were behind them and it was a long second half for us. "But fair play to them - Stuart Nelson pulled off a couple of brilliant saves for us and he's a great shot-stopper." Colchester boss Tony Humes felt his side were unlucky to lose. He said: "I thought we did more than enough to win it but you can't say that when the scoreline says 2-1. "I can't criticise the players for their attitude and how they tried to get back into the game. "We played well and created lots of opportunities so we can't be critical of the team performance, apart from conceding the two goals in the first half. "Gavin (Massey) had two efforts in the first half and with a little bit more composure, he would have scored but we have to stay positive. "Gillingham didn't really come out to try and score in the second half. "I thought we were patient on the ball and their goalkeeper made a fantastic save from Freddie Sears but it's hard chasing the game. "Freddie scored and it wasn't offside and they're the decisions that go against you - we've seen it again and it's a poor decision." Gavin Massey's early effort rattled the crossbar but Gillingham took a 25th-minute lead through Martin, who thumped home after U's defender Kaspars Gorkss had inadvertently nodded Cody McDonald's cross into his path. And the Gills doubled their lead 10 minutes later after the unmarked Dack converted McDonald's assist at the near post. Gills goalkeeper Stuart Nelson denied Massey before Colchester reduced the deficit five minutes after the break through substitute Szmodics, who converted Sean Clohessy's pass from two yards. Freddie Sears had a goal disallowed and was brilliantly denied by Nelson but Gillingham stood firm.