Gillingham return to the Sky Bet League 2 Play-Off places following excellent win at Meadow Lane.
Max Clark scored the pick of the goals as Gillingham came from behind to beat Notts County 3-1 at Meadow Lane.
Dan Crowley initially gave the hosts the lead when his shot from the edge of the penalty area went in off the post. However, Gills were level six minutes later when Oli Hawkins headed beyond Aidan Stone.
Clark put the visitors in front after 35 minutes when he thumped a first-time outside-the-foot effort into the top corner from around 12 yards out. Masterson made it three shortly after half-time when he headed beyond an oncoming Stone following a Gillingham corner.
Stephen Clemence made three changes following the 1-1 draw against Walsall. Max Clark, Tim Dieng and Jonny Williams came into the starting XI. Scott Malone, Jorge Hurtado and Connor Mahoney were named among the substitutes.
Gills almost had a fantastic chance in the 12th minute. The visitors broke forward after a Notts County attack, with Jonny Williams leading the charge on his own. As he made his way into the Notts County half, Remeao Hutton was sprinting the length of the pitch to join the attack, running into acres of space. However, Jonny Williams spotted the run a touch late, as his through ball was too close to Aidan Stone, who managed to clear the ball just ahead of Hutton.
Dan Crowley gave the hosts the lead moments later. Jodi Jones made a bursting run inside from his left wing-back position before laying it off to Crowley, who had space to move into. The midfielder set himself before shooting from 20 yards, and his shot sneaked into the back of the net off the inside of the post.
In the 19th minute, Oli Hawkins headed Gillingham back onto level terms. Hutton took the ball down the right before setting it back to Conor Masterson, who curled an excellent first-time cross into the middle of the penalty area. Hawkins met the ball, guiding his header into the far corner out of Stone’s reach.
Former Gillingham loanee Scott Robertson had a half-chance when he shot from the edge of the penalty area. Fortunately, he dragged his effort well wide of the target.
Clark fired the visitors in front with a superb strike in the 35th minute. Dieng delivered a low cross from the right towards the centre of the box, which was touched on by Josh Walker. It came to Clark, who smashed a first-time effort with the outside of his boot from around 12 yards into the top corner, leaving Stone with no chance.
HALF-TIME: Notts County 1-2 Gillingham
Masterson got his name on the scoresheet eight minutes into the second half. Hutton curled a corner from the left deep into the penalty area, which Hawkins headed back across the goal. The ball was taken just off the boot of Max Ehmer, but Shad Ogie headed the ball back into a dangerous area. The Notts County defenders allowed the ball to bounce as Masterson got in ahead of Stone to nod his header into the back of the net.
Sam Austin replaced John Bostock in the 67th minute and had an opportunity moments later. Jones curled a cross from the left, evading everybody before bouncing to Austin. The Magpies midfielder took a touch before shooting. Fortunately, he fired his half-volley over the crossbar.
Gillingham made their first change in the 72nd minute when George Lapslie replaced Walker.
Hawkins had a great opportunity to make it four. Clark sent a long ball forward towards Dieng, who headed it towards the penalty spot. Stone came to punch it, but some confusion meant he could not make clear contact. The ball dropped to Hawkins, who volleyed with the goalkeeper still getting up off the floor. However, a Notts County defender was there to get in the way of the strike to block it out for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the 79th minute, Gills made their second change, as Robbie McKenzie replaced Jonny Williams.
Turner did well to deny Macaulay Langstaff after Aaron Nemane’s low cross found the striker. The Notts striker struck it first time but could not make clear contact with the shot as Turner got down to save with his body.
McGoldrick forced Turner into action again when he got on the end of Jones’ cross. However, he headed the ball into the ground, taking out any power from the effort, and the Gills goalkeeper got across to claim the ball.
The visitors made their third change in the 86th minute, as Jorge Hurtado replaced Hawkins.
In the 89th minute, the ball somehow failed to end up in the back of the Notts County goal. Hutton curled a free-kick from the right into the penalty area, which Dieng got on the end of with a diving header. It beat Stone but hit the inside of the post. The ball was seemingly going to cross the line as it bounced across before hitting the other post and going out of the goal.
Masterson had a great chance from an Ogie throw in seconds later. Ehmer flicked the ball into the path of the defender, who struck a powerful half-volley on the turn. Unfortunately, it went just over the crossbar.
FULL-TIME: Notts County 1-3 Gillingham
Notts County: Stone, Cameron, Baldwin, Brindley, Jones, Nemane, Bostock (Austin 67’), Robertson, Crowley, McGoldrick, Langstaff
Unused Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Rawlinson, Macari, Mahovo, O’Brien, Auston, Morias
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark, Coleman, Dieng, J. Williams (McKenzie 79’), Hawkins (Hurtado 86’), Walker (Lapslie 72’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Malone, Mahoney, Nadesan
Referee: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 10340 (953 Gillingham supporters)