GILLINGHAM 3-0 GRIMSBY
Gillingham v Grimsby match-report
Gillingham made it 3 in a row with a win over Grimsby Town. The team, from the off played with the confidence and passion which Mark Stimson has been promising.
With Crofts on international duty and Curtis Weston detained by a family matter (he later came on in the second half) Mark Stimson was forced to reshuffle his side bringing in Adam Miller and Stuart Lewis
First Half
Gills started brightly when Jackson put the ball in the box and met Oli's head but the ball fell into the keeper arms.
4 mins later and gills created another chance when Miller and Daniels linked up well but Miller put in a poor cross and the chance was wasted.
2 mins later and grimsby created their first chance Peter Till shoots and Royce makes the save going out for a corner but the corner was wasted and the ball went straight into the keeper arms.
Gills went down the other end and created a brilliant chance throw-in by Nutter to Mulligan a one-two with Jackson and then Mulligan runs with the ball to the by-line and cuts it back to Jackson but he scuffed the shot and the ball rolled wide.
1 min later and gills created another chance Mulligan pressuring the Grimsby defender in order to make a mistake and the ball goes to Jacskon. Jackson shoots but another great save from Phil Barnes in the Grimsby goal and it goes out for a corner. But the corner gets wasted to the disappointment of the gills fans.
1 min later and a link play by Nutter and Daniels and the ball goes to Miller on the edge of the area but the shot is blocked out by Matt Heywood the Grimsby captain but Gills keep pressing and good work by Oli on the wing wins Gills a corner but the corner is wasted and goes out for the gills throw in.
1 min later and oli puts in a wonderful ball into the box and falls to the feet of Jackson but he puts the ball wide to the anger of the Gills fans.
Another chance for the gills and great link up play by Mulligan and Jackson cross by Mulligan but wasted again and this time the Gills fans are starting to get on the players backs.
Grimsby go down the other end and Nathan Jarman shoots but
the Gills clear and a minute later Royce rolls the ball out to Nutter,Nutter passes the ball to Daniels who is on the edge of the area and Daniels shoots but it hits Jackson on the way through and goes out for a goal kick.
A minute later and Grimsby are on the attack Simon Heslop shoots but saved by Simon Royce and it goes out for a corner but gills get the corner cleared.
Grimsby keep pressing and force another brilliant save by Royce but it comes out into the path of the new Grimsby signing from Man City on deadline day but the Gills fans were grateful to Barry Fuller for making a vital challenge to keep the score at 0-0.
5 mins later and Grimsby win a free-kick but Royce jumps the highest to catch the ball comfortably and Gills go down the other end and create another chance when Jackson shoots but another great save by Phil Barnes in the Grimsby goal.
He rolls out for a corner but the corner goes straight to a Grimsby head and the ball goes out for another corner. The corner gets wasted yet again and Grimsby go down the other end and win a free-kick cleared by Garry Richards but just to the edge of the area and Matt Heywood shoots but yet again Royce is in the way of it.
It's cleared away by the Gills captain Simon King and the ball comes to Jackson's feet he turns and shoots but yet again Phil Barnes comes out with a top draw save and it goes out for a corner.
The corner goes to a Grimsby head and goes out for another corner. Cross by Nutter flicked on by Oli and comes off the knee of Jackson and into the back of the net sending the krbs Priestfield Stadium into raptures.
Straight from the kick-off and Gillingham win back the ball and Nutter wins a corner for Gills and it comes to Mulligan and he boots it up in the air and it lands in Phil Barnes's hands.
Phil Barnes clears it up field straight to the feet of Vidal and he crosses the ball in but Nutter is in the way and it and goes out for a corner.
The gills clear the ball away to the relief of the fans. Gills go down the other end and Oli gets brought down by the by-line but yet again Gills waste the free-kick and Grimsby clear the ball away.
Simon King heads to Jackson's feet and he runs to the by-line and puts a wonderful ball in the box but just misses Oli's head and goes straight into the keepers arms.
Phil Barnes clears it up field but gills win the ball back and miller puts the ball in the box and their is a scramble in the box but Grimsby get the ball away. Half time and Gills lead 1-0 at the break
Second Half
Sub for the gills Weston on Lewis off
1 min after the break and Gills start the brighter, Nutter shoots the ball and it flashes across goal - goal-kick to Grimsby.
2 mins later and Grimsby go down the other end and Vidal wins a free-kick but it's cleared by Simon King. Grimsby win the ball back and a powerful shot by Peter Till but blocked by Simon King who is left in pain but is alright.
1 min later and good link up play by Jackson and Weston who shoots but another great save by Phil Barnes in the Grimsby goal and cleared away by Matt Heywood.
A min later and Grimsby are on the attack again, a shot by danny north but another good save by Royce in the Gillingham goal.
The Gills go down the other end and a great cross by Barry Fuller but the cross is wasted and rolls out for a goal-kick to Grimsby.
Grimsby go down the other end and Vidal shoots but the ball goes over the bar goal-kick to the gills Royce clears the ball to the wing and straight to Oli and he shoots from the edge of the area but the ball sails over the ball.
Sub by the gills Mulligan comes off and gets a standing ovation from the Priestfield crowd, Mark McCammon comes on and the gills fans are not happy with Stimson.
Grimsby nearly draw level, Royce is off his line and Danny North lobs Royce, all the Gills fans think it is in but it rattles the underside of the bar but to the relief of the gills fans does not cross the line.
Grimsby are starting to pressure and Vidal wins a corner for Grimsby but the corner is wasted.
Another sub for the Gills Dennis Oli off Tyrone Berry on and the Rainham End start singing Oli's name.
Good link up play by Mark McCammon and Jackson, Jackson puts a lovely ball through to McCammon and he shoots but Phil Barnes saves, McCammon puts in the rebound to get his first for the club and surely gets the Gills the 3 points.
Grimsby look to find a consolation but the free-kick is wasted. Gills are looking for a third goal and an in-swinging corner from Nutter but the corner goes to Heywood's head, the ball goes to the edge of the area and Daniels shoots but Phil Barnes is on his toes to save the shot.
2 mins later Jackson is through but puts his shot high wide and into the top of the brian moore stand. 5 mins later cross by Miller but cleared away by Grimsby but Matt Heywood can't stop the ball going out for a corner. The corner is wasted to the frustration of the Gills fans but Gills win back the ball.
Nutter crosses the ball in the box and another scramble wins the Gills a corner but yet again gets wasted. 1 min later Gills win a free-kick and Daniels bends the ball round the wall and into the back of the net, outstanding
Full Time 3 points go to the gills, brilliant win.
James Hawkins Aged 13
Three Goals, Three Wins for the Mighty Gills
Gillingham made it three wins in a row today with a fantastic 3-0 victory over Grimsby Town at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium. Goals from Simeon Jackson, Mark McCammon, and Charlie Daniels gave Gillingham a much deserved win.
As it seems to be in previous games this season, Gillingham started the brightest, creating more chances and dominating possession. They had their first half chance on two minutes; Dennis Oli with a header on goal from a Simon King free-kick. It was straight at the keeper, but it showed Gillingham's attacking intent.
The first real chance for Gillingham fell to Charlie Daniels, when on 20 minutes the midfielder found space on the edge of the area before unleashing a goal bound effort, which was deflected out for a goal kick by teammate Simeon Jackson, as the Canadian could not get out of the way quick enough.
After starting rather poorly, Grimsby wanted their say in the game and had a great chance on 25 minutes. Simon Royce was called into action to save a good effort from Peter Till, but the ex-Charlton goalkeeper palmed straight into the path of Nick Hegarty, who would've scored had it not been for a crucial tackle from Barry Fuller.
Simeon Jackson had a good chance on 29 minutes, when he broke away from the Grimsby defence after being played through by a Dennis Oli header. His half-volley looked to be going in until Grimsby keeper Phil Barnes got down low to push it out to the safety of a corner.
Gillingham failed to convert from the corner, but didn't fail from another one five minutes later. John Nutter put a corner in from the right that was flicked on by Dennis Oli, and into the path of Simeon Jackson, who made no mistake and headed in to give Gillingham a deserved lead.
Stuart Lewis had a chance to double the lead minutes later, after being teed up by Gary Mulligan. The midfielder had his effort deflected wide however, and the Gills created little more in the remainder of the first half.
The second half didn't start brightly for either side, although the Gills had the better possession and perhaps the better chances. Curtis Weston, replacing Stuart Lewis, had the Gills' first chance following the interval with a low effort on 51 minutes. Barnes made a good save however, to deny Gillingham their second of the game.
The Gills became more comfortable as the half wore on, and were guilty of complacency on 61 minutes. Substitute Danny North, who came on for Simon Heslop, smashed a shot from 25 yards that looked to be going over. That was until it hit the underside of the crossbar, unlucky not to deflect in. A scare for Royce and Gillingham, who thought the ball would go over for a goal kick.
Gillingham then woke up, and responded nine minutes later, when Barbados international Mark McCammon made it 2-0. After having a first attempt blocked, Simeon Jackson flicked the ball back to McCammon to have a second attempt. The giant striker didn't fail this time as he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. The goal was McCammon's first ever goal for Gillingham, and the first goal of the season in front of the Brian Moore stand.
The Gills sealed the win two minutes from time, when a moment of magic from Charlie Daniels sent the Gillingham fans into ecstasy. The midfielder showed his Tottenham Hotspur quality with an exquisite free kick from 30 yards that curled into the top left corner, leaving Phil Barnes no chance.
So it was another victory for Gillingham, meaning they now have three wins in a row and have pushed up into a play-off place in the League Two table. A great performance by Gillingham, and one that will go a long way to help ease the pain following last season's disappointment.
Reported by Yoosof Farah, Aged 16
Gillingham continued their impressive start to the season with a comfortable 3-0 over Grimsby Town at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium. Goals from Simeon Jackson, Mark McCammon and a last minute wonder free kick from Charlie Daniels sealed the win for the Gills.
Following last weeks win over Accrington Stanley, Mark Stimson made three changes. Stuart Lewis replaced Gills skipper Andrew Crofts as he was away on international duty. Adam Miller came in for Curtis Weston, who turned up late for the game. Gary Mulligan made his first league start of the season at the expense of Mark McCammon.
The Gills started much the better side with Jackson and Mulligan coming close. The first real effort came on 20 minutes when a Daniels' shot deflected wide off Jackson.
The visitors had a good chance to take the lead when Simon Royce turned away a hopeful effort from Peter Till. Within a few minutes, Royce was again called into action after a powerful Tom Newey shot was punched clear by the Gills number one.
At the other end, 'keeper Phil Barnes turned away Jackson's effort after breaking through the defence.
Gillingham broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when a Nutter corner was flicked on by Oli and found Jackson on the line to bundle in. Stuart Lewis could have scored on half time when his shot deflected clear after good play from Mulligan.
Weston replaced Lewis at half time and nearly had an instant impact after picking up a through ball in the area, but shot straight at the visiting keeper.
The visitors started to gain control and had two very good chances to level. A solo effort from Peter Till shot straight at Royce from the edge of the area and in the 61st minute, his effort from the half way line struck the under-side of the bar and bounced out, during which Royce was in no man's land.
McCammon replaced Mulligan and doubled the lead with 20 minutes late. After a good link up with Jackson, he shrugged off his marker to be one-on-one with the keeper. His initial effort was blocked but followed up to convert his effort.
The win was rounded off in the 90th minute when Charlie Daniels curled in a fantastic free-kick into the top left corner from 30 yards and at the final whistle, 4,912 fans up roared in what has seen the Gills lift into the play-off places.
My man of the match over the 90 minutes was Simon King after another solid performance at the back and kept the visitors chances few and far between.
Gillingham's next game at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium is against Port Vale on Saturday 27th September.
Up The Gills!!
Report by Chris Williamson, age 16
