GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler has blasted his team's defending after they gave away three sloppy goals in a 3-3 draw at home to bottom club Stockport County last night.

The Gills led twice in the opening period but surrendered their advantage on each occasion shortly afterwards, but after scoring a third goal just before the interval, Hessenthaler was hoping his half time words would hit home.

However, two minutes into the second half, the visitors levelled the scores again, something the club boss was particularly annoyed about.

He said: "I'm disappointed, even though we haven't lost the game, but by the way we did it. I think for desire and passion on the night, Stockport were the better side.

"I had a real pop at our lads at half time. Some of them possibly saw the other side of me and then it was just amazing that we went out and immediately conceded a third goal."

Hessenthaler said: "I'm standing on the line watching it. I've done my job and the management team have done theirs preparing the players in the right way. We did nothing different, but I wouldn't put it down to complacency and I will be disappointed in the players if that's the case, because we drum into them not to be so in our team talks and in our training."

Gillingham's goals came from an own goal, a Simon Osborn long-range blast and a Marlon King penalty but, with Luke Beckett scoring his first two goals for Stockport, the visitors were only one goal behind at half time. Neil Ross equalised in the early exchanges of the second period but, with County having goalkeeper Andy Dibble dismissed for a second bookable offence with 20 minutes remaining, the home side probably should have won the game, a point Hessenthaler was quick to make.

He said: "We should have had a decent spell ourselves particularly as they were down to 10 men after having their goalkeeper sent off. We can't treat games like this easy because there are no easy games in Division One."

Gillingham, who remain in 11th position in the First Division table, travel to Coventry City on Saturday, a game the Priestfield boss feels will bring the best out of his players.