It was only a couple of minutes into the game when the referee sent Mick off for a challenge that, in those days wouldn't normally have received a booking. The referee was quite happy to allow far worse challenges go on Derrick Parker & Glyn Riley throughout the match. In fact, the only decision he gave our way was when he awarded us a penalty in the first half and I'm certain he would've waved play on if he thought he could've got away with it. Ian Banks scored the penalty. Neil Cooper moved to centre half from full back after Macca was dismissed, with Gordon Boyd going from midfield to right back. We were terrific that day and the 1-1 scoreline flattered a thuggish Gillingham team.
I'm sad enough to remember the ref! It was Tony Ward, he also sent off Steve Cooper at home v Port Vale the following season (Coops had also been sent off the previous season v Port Vale too) for kicking thin air, the change in air pressure felling John Jeffers. I do remember the deadly accuracy of the coins that subsequently hit Jeffers too! You could see the dismay in Ward's face when he had no option but to give us a cast iron penalty in the last minute of the same game, think it was Archdeacon who scored to get us a point.