JOE Quigley celebrated scoring his first Football League goal by sharing a “big cuddle” with Cherries team-mate Harry Cornick.

Quigley struck for loan side Gillingham in their 1-1 draw with Millwall on Saturday, a result which kept the Kent club perched one point above the League One drop zone.

The 20-year-old broke his duck on his fifth start for Gills and his first alongside close friend Cornick, who belatedly arrived at Priestfield late last month.

It was an especially sweet moment for Quigley, given he had been left on the bench since a 4-0 defeat by Bolton on March 14.

“We are good mates. Me, Harry and (Cherries defender and former Gillingham loan player) Baily Cargill all live together,” Quigley told Kent Online.

“We said we would give each other a big cuddle if either of us scored, so that was nice.

“It was a good time for it to come, in a big game. I would have preferred to have started scoring from the moment I got here but if I was going to pick a game then that would have been the one.”

Quigley’s initial loan stay with Gillingham was cruelly ended when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury back in August.

The striker confounded expectations by taking only six months to return to fitness. Getting up to speed with competitive action, however, represented a different challenge altogether.

“After such a long time out it does take time to get sharp,” said Quigley. “In some games you show up and in others you feel leggy.

“The past four games haven’t gone to plan but the gaffer gave me my chance against Millwall. Hopefully, I took it and can stay in the side.

“I hadn’t scored before so that might have been one of the reasons for leaving me out.”

Cornick agreed his move to Gillingham on January’s transfer deadline day but had to complete his recovery from a groin problem before linking up with Ady Pennock’s side.

And Quigley is certain the addition of the winger to the ranks will provide Gills with a boon in their bid to break clear of the bottom four.

“Harry is very sharp and he can always make things happen," added Quigley. "He is a great athlete, I really enjoy playing alongside him and long may it continue.”