Gills beaten by Crewe in Cheshire.
A goal in each half gave Crewe all three points in a 2-0 win against Gillingham at the Mornflake Stadium on Tuesday night.
Connor O’Riordan scored a header on the half hour mark with Joe White scoring late on as Gills went in search of an equaliser.
Gills created a number of opportunities throughout the 90 minutes but couldn’t find a way through.
Ethan Coleman struck the post and Robbie McKenzie had an effort well saved. The visitors commanded possession for the majority of the second half but couldn’t produce the final killer touch.
Neil Harris made two changes to the side that drew with Mansfield on Saturday with Shaun Williams and Jonny Williams making way for George Lapslie and Robbie McKenzie respectively.
With the skipper not named in the squad, Max Clark was named among the substitutes. Scott Malone was Captain.
The first opportunity of the game fell for the hosts on ten minutes when a cross from the right was sent right into the heart of the Gills penalty area. Courtney Baker-Richardson had space to work in and connected well, however the header was gathered by Jake Turner.
Gills progressively worked their way into the game and on 20 minutes nearly took the lead. Ethan Coleman’s shot from outside the box was struck with plenty of power, keeper Harvey Davies may have got a touch before the effort struck the post before rolling to safety.
Chris Long and Cheye Alexander both had shots struck off target in the minutes that followed as the game began to open up.
Crewe took the lead just after the half hour mark when a second successive corner was flicked away at the near post, the hosts kept the ball alive and a cross back into the danger zone was headed home by Connor O’Riordan.
The visitors had two great chances to equalise prior to the interval. Firstly, a low ball from Mahoney near the right byline was dragged back for Lapslie inside the six-yard box, he made good contact but the keeper made himself big to make the block.
Secondly, Robbie McKenzie went on a solo run towards the edge of the penalty area. His shot across Harvey Davies resulted in the keeper palming the effort away as far as Bonne who was arriving first, however he was unable to hit the target.
H/T: Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Gillingham
Crewe had an opportunity to increase their lead on 58 minutes but Jake Turner was alert to stop Shilow Tracey’s low effort from finding the bottom corner. Moments later Bonne did well to pick out Jefferies to the left hand side inside the penalty area, the midfielder was forced to strike it quickly and his effort went over the bar as a result.
Coleman came close again as the clock approached 70 minutes. Mahoney’s corner was delivered to the edge of the six-yard box, the midfielder came steaming in and beat Davies to it, however the effort went just over.
Although defending well, Crewe did create chances in the second period, Rio Adebisi firing wide from 20 yards having made space for a shot just outside the box.
Gills sent bodies forward in search of an equaliser but Crewe seized their opportunity on the counter attack and Joe White, on as a sub, advanced through the centre, received the ball from the left side, his effort coming off Turner before nestling in the corner of the net.
F/T: Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Gillingham
Crewe: Davies, Adebisi, Williams (Nevitt 65), Demetriou, Offord, Long (Holicek HT), Tracey (White 73), O’Riordan, Powell (Rowe 73), Baker-Richardson (Finney 64).
Unused subs: Booth, Cooney
Gills: Turner, Alexander (Nichols HT), Ogie, Masterson, Malone, McKenzie (Clarke 87), Coleman, Lapslie (J Williams 64), Jefferies (Nadesan 74), Mahoney, Bonne.
Unused subs: Morris, Clark, Ehmer, Clarke
Attendance: 3427 (207)
Referee: Mr D Middleton