Ten-man Gillingham edge Crawley

A late goal from skipper Doug Loft put 10-man Gillingham into the Southern Section semi-final of the JPT with a 2-1 victory over Crawley.

An Izale McLeod penalty put the hosts ahead and Gillingham defender Joe Martin received a straight red card before substitute Jermaine McGlashan levelled in the 68th minute. Crawley striker McLeod broke the deadlock on 21 minutes with his eighth goal of the season from the penalty spot. The former MK Dons man sent keeper Stuart Nelson the wrong way after Jake Hessenthaler brought down winger Gwion Edwards. McLeod had threatened early on by putting an angled shot wide following a pass from Gavin Tomlin. Bobson Bawling later set up McLeod in front of goal but he could not direct his header on target. Gillingham keeper Nelson parried away a goal-bound shot from Jimmy Smith before pushing a fierce drive by Tomlin round the post. Luke Norris flashed a shot across the face of the goal for Gillingham just before the break after a smart turn on the edge of the six yard box. Gillingham were reduced to 10 men mid-way through the second half when former Spurs and Blackpool defender Joe Martin was dismissed for pushing McLeod off the ball. But the visitors hit back to level on 68 minutes through substitute Jermaine McGlashan, who cut in to fire a low shot across keeper Jamie Ashdown. Gillingham skipper Loft settled the issue two minutes from time by beating keeper Ashdown from 35 yards with a deep cross which sailed into the top corner.