Gills defender wins goal award for December.
Scott Malone has won the Sky Bet League 2 Goal of the Month award for December.
Scott's second half strike against Sutton at Priestfield, which proved to be the match winner, saw him take the trophy which was presented to him on Thursday morning.
The respective winners of each division's award are as follows:
Sky Bet Championship
Wes Burns – IPSWICH TOWN v Coventry City – 2nd December
Conor Chaplin’s whipped pass and a five-player move traversing the Portman Road pitch were still topped by Burns’ audacious, breathtaking banana shot off the outside of his right boot.
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “The whole attacking move was worth applauding but the finish from Wes Burns was out of this world. He cut inside with purpose and showed incredible technique to bend the ball beyond the keeper using the outside of his foot.
“This was the goal of a lifetime for Burns… It was inventive, skilful and hugely unfortunate for the other candidates in December who in any other month may have had a chance of winning, but this strike has to be considered one of the favourites for Goal of the Season.”
Burns beat off competition from Watford’s Wesley Hoedt, Leicester City’s James Justin and Rotherham United’s Sam Clucas.
Sky Bet League One
John McAtee – BARNSLEY v Stevenage – 23rd December
Barnsley striker John McAtee is the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month winner for December.
Chasing onto a bouncing pass, McAtee seemed to have nowhere to go. But, with Stevenage keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond racing off his line, he adroitly executed a no-look, hooked lob.
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “In any other month, John McAtee’s long range strike vs Port Vale could have won Goal of the Month, but the Barnsley striker decided to one up himself in December as he caught Stevenage keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond in no man’s land with a delicious lob.
“It was an instinctive finish from a player at the top of his game. He knew exactly where the goal was and didn’t think twice before lifting it into the net.”
McAtee beat off competition from Oxford United’s Marcus McGuane and Blackpool’s Ollie Norburn.
Sky Bet League Two
Scott Malone – GILLINGHAM v Sutton United – 29th December
The technical difficulty involved in moving towards the ball as it looped up off a Sutton head and then controlling his thigh-high volley was matched by the raw power Malone generated.
Malone said: "Firstly, thank you to everyone who voted for the goal. It is certainly one of the best I have scored and for it to be the winner made it more special.
"I won't get bored watching it back!"
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “First time volleys are always special, and Scott Malone’s had everything. He knew he needed to take it early to beat the on-rushing defenders, but still managed to control the ball and generate the power required to beat the keeper, it was a brilliant strike.
“When the ball hangs in the air like that and you’re being closed down, it’s very easy to panic and rush your attempt but Malone’s concentration never wavered, and he executed his volley perfectly.”
Malone beat off competition from Grimsby Town’s Abo Eisa, Newport County’s Lewis Payne and Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff.
The winners of the Sky Bet EFL Goals of the Month were selected by a panel of experts and a public vote.
The panel comprises Sky Sports’ EFL experts Don Goodman and David Prutton.