Martin reacts to late winner against Morecambe...
Martin Allen described the last gasp winner against Morecambe as `amazing` when he addressed the media following the 2-1 win at the weekend.
Deon Burton struck in the third minute of stoppage time at MEMS Priestfield to take all three points and put the Gills seven points clear at the top of the league table.
Martin said: “What a goal, what a finish and a great ball forward. He took it on his chest and I’ve him do that for years. It was an amazing end to what was a difficult game.
“I said last week that they were relentless and they just keep going and we started the game extremely well.
"Morecambe are well organised and they’ve been on a good run with some good results. They have some good players, they have proper men in their team with experience and it was a tough game.
"That win was fantastic. It was just brilliant from Deon Burton and in the Rainham End as well.
"Never say never - to have people like Deon Burton, Myles Weston with Charlie Allen and Charlie Lee on the bench - what a difference they all make when they come on.
"In modern football your subs have to be quality, they have to be powerful, and thankfully we've got them here. We have match winners sitting on our bench so it was a difficult one with which player to put on.
“The credit has got to go to the players. They are the ones who do it.”
Martin praised the opposition and said they gave his side a stern test.
He said:“I shook the hand of every player from Morecambe and said to every one of them ‘well played’ because they really played well. I do like Morecambe Football club.
“They are getting stronger and stronger. They are well organised, well put together and they have a good blend of younger and older players. They have good experienced pros and each and every one of them had my full respect.
“They are very well organised – you can see on their free kicks and their throws. They try to get passes through midfield and they pop it around well and I’ve known some of their players for years and years.“They will always raise their game, of course they will but it’s up to us to raise our game and we started well zipping it about with purpose.”
With Port Vale slipping up at home to York it increased the Gills lead at the top of the league by another two points. Martin was pleased to hear the news but doesn’t see it as a cushion.
He said:“I only found that out as I walked into the media room.
“Someone told me we have gone seven points clear and that’s quite amazing.
“I don’t look at my phone to quickly look what the others have done. I don’t bother, I really don’t. I went back to my office, had a cup of coffee, walked Monty on the side of the pitch and then someone said we were seven points clear. It does make me smile.“Its new for me, I’ve never been top and we’re going to have to get used to it but it’s a nice thing to work on.”
Martin responded to a question regarding the performance of Lewis Montrose, and although he isn’t one to single out individuals, he did say the midfielder was impressive during the game.
He said: “He’s a great lad, he works so hard at the training pitch to make himself a better player and if he was your son you would be proud.
“Montrose tries his best, he works so hard, he loves playing football, he loves training and these are the types of people we want involved in the trenches with us.
“I was delighted when he scored that goal and I’m happy having him at our club, he’s a great person to have here and if you pay your money you want people like that.
“He deserved it and I don’t normally pick out individuals but he did play really well and to score again from a holding position is terrific.”