There was also an explosive last twenty minutes that left everyone at the ground dumbfounded at the goings on, referee Richard Beeby taking centre stage with a series of decisions from the inconsistent department, resulting in a much needed escort as he left the field aided by his myopic assistants and PC Plod. 
It is too easy though to lay the blame solely with the referee and whilst many won't wish to see him return too soon, home supporters will also be wishing that this was just a one off performance from their team where many were well below par on the day.
The game got off to a slow start, with Gills taking the lead in their first foray up field and the goal was to sum up the afternoon. Hills’ shot from the edge of the area was going straight into the waiting arms of Coyne, until a wicked deflection off Roberts' rear diverted the ball past a helpless Coyne, Roberts even apologising to the unfortunate 'keeper as the two hundred or so travellers from Kent revelled in the afternoon sunshine.
With Clarets behind for the fourth successive game, we looked for inspiration and the type of flowing football seen in recent games. We saw neither and what followed in a desperately poor first half was just what an uncompromising
The ball spent far too much time in the air, the forwards were alienated and Richard Chaplow in particular looked a lost soul on the right side of midfield. It was all too easy for
It was fully twenty minutes before Clarets got a shot at Banks' goal and this was a long range
The officials involvement in the game began on the half hour mark. Byfield quite clearly pushed McGreal off the pitch causing the defender to go full length over the corner flag in a silly moment but right in front of the linesman. McGreal was aghast at the lack of a decision, Cotterill was incensed, so much so, that the fourth official got an earful and then told tales to Mr Beeby.
Mr Beeby endeared himself to the locals by banishing Cotterill from the touchline and the rest of his game was spent watching from the comfy seats, Dave Kevan taking over marching around duties in the technical area.
With precious little action in a scrappy game, it was all to brief as Clarets tried to beat Banks mainly from distance, Chaplow and Grant having the closer of those efforts as half time approached, an interval that saw more cheerleaders on the pitch than visitors from Kent high up in the Cricket Field stand.
HT 0-1.
Into the second and the expected tactical changes failed to materialise. In fact, the only change evident was that from Mr Beeby, who changed his attitudes from tolerance and patience to ones of intolerance and ineptitude in a half of eight bookings and a sending off. 
Hills was the first to see yellow for a late challenge on Chaplow, before Grant was similarly upended, but no card was shown to Hessenthaler, though he finally did manage to get his deserved card for an afternoon's nastiness when again late on Grant minutes later.
Roberts was booked for dissent, Beeby applied the ten yard rule, much to the annoyance of all from Kent and with the ball now in Robbie range we expected better than a disappointing effort from Blake who had as poor a game as anyone could remember, the cul-de-sacs and wrong options all too plenty on a forgettable performance.
Sadly, if he has an off day, there is no one else able to take up the challenge of breaking down the opposition and the movement from Clarets front line was very disappointing throughout.
McGreal and Byfield managed an altercation off the ball, spotted by an eagle eyed "lino" and with play stopped to calm the melee, both were awarded yellows for their troubles before Clarets entered their best spell in the game when, in a four minute passage midway through the half, they created and sadly missed three good chances.
Hyde got in a tremendous header, which luckily for Banks was straight at him enabling a reflex tip over for a corner. Blake's inswinger set up an unmarked Sinclair to head at goal from only six yards out, but the contact was minimal and Clarets clearest opening in the entire game passed harmlessly by as the header missed the target.
Within a minute
The warning was not heeded and Gills doubled their advantage with twenty minutes remaining. A harmless looking ball cleared the Clarets back line, leaving Coyne to race from his line to try and beat Byfield to the high ball just outside his area.
Not wanting to risk a red card, Coyne chose the cautious option enabling Byfield to round the stranded 'keeper and tap home into the unguarded net, leaving all in the home stands somewhat frustrated.
The Clarets needed inspiration and clearly lacked any, alongside the matter of there being no leader on the field. Yes there are good players, but the cohesive nature of recent games was absent as Gills sensed their moments when breaking up field.
A silly tackle from McGreal conceded a needless penalty and as Hyde picked up the ball Byfield tried to wrestle it from his grasp. Stupidly, Hyde became Jekyll and threw the ball at the petty Byfield whose mission was complete with Beeby issuing a straight red to Hyde who would watch the remainder from up the tunnel.
Coyne brilliantly saved the penalty, only for Beeby to award a retake, apparently for encroachment, allowing Hills the chance to redeem himself from twelve yards. In an encroachment free zone, Coyne save the retake and an atmosphere engulfed an otherwise silent stadium as Clarets responded well in the closing minutes of the game.
Sinclair was booked as Hessenthaler conned Beeby, before former Claret Cox saw yellow for shirt pulling on Blake. The resulting ball into the area was missed by Duff, whose alibi was that he was blatantly held, but by now consistency of decision making was a thing of the past.
Cox could and should have walked, after further shirt pulling went completely unpunished, before Moore pulled one back, glancing home Chaplow's right wing cross with four hectic minutes remaining.
Seizing the ball from the back of the net,
Duff then crossed only for Blake to be pushed to the ground, "play on" says an unimpressed Beeby.
Blake's day was summed up as he hit the resulting free kick straight into the wall, leaving Beeby and Co to wait for their police escort from the field as many a player, supporter and official wanted a work in tricky Dicky's shell like.
Bums on Seats : 11,394.
Sour Grapes: Richard Beeby, your one and only performance at the Turf will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Ably assisted by three stooges, the performance from the officials was actually worse than that from the Clarets. On this performance that is going some.
A Fine Claret: There were only three contenders; Coyne, Grant or Camara, but my vote goes to Tony Grant after a display where he managed to keep going and maintain his composure whilst many around him lost theirs. Prompted most of Clarets forward play and even managed a few shots at goal, though not much can be said about those.