Bradford take all three points from Priestfield.
Jamie Walker and Andy Cook were the scorers as Bradford City beat Gillingham 2-0 at the Priestfield Stadium.
Stephen Clemence made one change following the FA Cup win against Charlton, with Connor Mahoney returning to the starting XI in the place of Jayden Clarke, who dropped to the bench. Oli Hawkins was named among the substitutes as he continued to rebuild his fitness following a long-term injury.
Brad Halliday had a brilliant chance in the opening moments of the game. Tyler Smith spotted the run of the right-back into the penalty area as Halliday was left alone inside the box. He directed his shot across the goal towards the far bottom corner but missed the target.
Macauley Bonne thought he had given Gillingham the lead but was denied by a fantastic Harry Lewis save. Mahoney curled a corner towards the near post, which Bonne flicked goalward. It was seemingly sneaking in at the near post before Lewis got across to claw it away from his goal.
Jamie Walker gave Bradford the lead in the 31st minute. The visitors won possession deep inside the Gillingham half and got down the right wing before Alex Gilliead delivered a low-driven cross. It was half-cleared as it came out to Walker, who slotted it into the bottom corner, just out of Jake Turner’s reach.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Bradford City
Max Ehmer came close in the 55th minute when he got on the end of Jonny Williams’ free-kick from the right. Unfortunately, his header went just over the crossbar.
Just after the hour, Gills made a double substitution. Tom Nichols replaced Bonne, while Hawkins made his first appearance of the season as he came on for George Lapslie.
In the 71st minute, Tim Dieng’s effort from distance went just over the bar. Hawkins did well to flick the ball into the path of Williams, who made his way forward. He played it to Dieng, who brought the ball onto his right foot before shooting. His effort had plenty of movement, with Lewis reaching to get a hand onto it. It dipped at the final second but went just over the bar.
Andy Cook doubled Bradford’s advantage four minutes later. The visitors won a free-kick 20 yards from the goal, which Cook struck underneath the wall. It snuck under the wall and into the bottom corner beyond Turner.
Gills had a penalty appeal when Mahoney went down inside the penalty area under what appeared to be the challenge of a Bradford defender. However, the referee ignored any claims and allowed play to continue.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-2 Bradford City
Gillingham: Turner, McKenzie, Ehmer, Masterson, Malone, Coleman (Jefferies 72’), Dieng, Mahoney, Lapslie (Hawkins 61’), J. Williams (Clarke 72’), Bonne (Nichols 61’)
Unused substitutes: Morris, Alexander, Ogie
Bradford City: Lewis, Halliday, Tomkinson, Platt, Kelly, Smallwood, Smith (Oliver 64’), Richards, Walker (Pattison 83’), Gilliead, Cook (Osadebe 83’)
Unused Substitutes: Doyle, Oduor, Stubbs, Derbyshire
Referee: Scott Jackson
Attendance: 5874 (370 away fans)