Power and purpose

Luke Kelly battles for possession with Bradley Dack.

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SCORE three goals away from home and it is inevitable there will be disappointment at not taking three points.

Given this vibrant attacking showing from his men, though, David Dunn's smile at full-time as he emerged from the tunnel behind the temporary stand at Priestfield illustrated his belief that better things lie just round the corner for Athletic.

Dominic Poleon had a group of nervous Gills defenders on toast as he raced forward repeatedly in this madcap clash, netting one neat goal to level at 2-2 in the first half before creating another with a lovely early cross despatched with power and precision on the volley by strike parter Michael Higdon to put Athletic in front after the interval.

Higdon had earlier stuck the shot which Brennan Dickenson deflected into his own net, in between two poacher's specials from in-form Northern Irish striker Rory Donnelly.

A smart curling strike from 20 yards by Jake Hessenthaler levelled matters again soon after Higdon's superb first-time effort in the second half. Dunn's men held a lead here for a total of only two minutes in the whole of the 90.

But once the madness of six shared goals inside the opening hour had abated, there is no doubt that Athletic – purposeful, slick on the ball and with some poise in midfield in a 4-4-2 shape – were the more likely of the sides to go on and claim a win.

Dunn's side weren't satisfied in settling for a point at Priestfield – home of a free-scoring side well marshalled by Justin Edinburgh, which had won every one of its last eight league fixtures on home soil.

Poleon almost snaked his way between two centre-backs to get a shot away, later landing an improvised header from new boy Cameron Dummigan's cross on to the roof of the net, while Danny Philliskirk's clever pass to Higdon saw the latter man just unable to get his shot away.

It is four draws in a row now for Dunn, but he will be instilling belief in his players that a victory will come against Scunthorpe on Saturday – provided the defensive lapses here aren't repeated.

The first of those came after only eight minutes. Dummigan, 19 years old and playing his first senior game on loan from Burnley, was caught on his heels as left-back Dickenson raced past him on the break before sending in a sweeping cross that was turned home confidently by Donnelly.

Dummigan – along with opposite full-back Daniel Lafferty, making his debut for the club from Burnley – grew into the contest and as it wore on looked increasingly effective drifting forward elegantly down the right flank.

Lafferty, too, was as adventurous in supplementing the attack as his Gillingham equivalent Dickenson.

That pair were two of a total of five loan players named in Dunn's starting XI, including three in the back four.

Athletic's start was poor. John Egan headed into the side netting from a corner

needlessly conceded before Donnelly netted his third goal in five days from close range.

Up against it, the visitors responded well and levelled after a similar corner routine to that which saw Higdon score at Port Vale.

A far-post delivery to the Liverpool-born striker saw him win his initial battle, the ball falling to Philliskirk who twisted, turned and shielded possession.

Higdon was then on hand to power a shot home via Dickenson – a strike which went down officially as an own goal.

Five minutes later, the Gills were in front again. A free-kick was not cleared and as Dickenson lofted it back in hopefully, Athletic's defensive line was jagged as some players came out while other stayed in.

Goalkeeper David Cornell came out a little late to try to punch and Donnelly nodded into a vacant goal.

Poleon made it three goals inside eight minutes when Higdon's pass found him racing down the right channel, neatly lifting the ball over advancing home 'keeper Stuart Nelson.

Half-time gave both managers time to try to assert some sort of order and after the break Athletic were clearly in the ascendancy.

Jay Fulton started the move that led to Athletic's third goal with a typically neat pass which changed the direction of attack.

Then it was all about revitalised Poleon's whipped ball in and Higdon's delightful finish, in front of the band of 181 travelling supporters.

The joy was short-lived,

half-time replacement Hessenthaler smashing in a shot Cornell stood little chance of stopping travel into his top-left corner.

Despite plenty of probing from Athletic – who up to this game, had failed to score more than once in a game all season – that was how it finished, leaving a remarkably unusual unbeaten record featuring six straight away draws.