Sam Gale was on cloud nine after scoring his first Gillingham goal in the 1-0 win against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
The academy graduate had the chance to score the winner against the same opposition in front of the Rainham End last season. That moment was on his mind throughout the second half.
Gills had to work hard throughout the game to keep it scoreless, with Crewe having several opportunities to take the lead. The young defender commended the defensive efforts of the entire team, realising how everybody is working for one another.
Gale picked up an early booking in the fixture and discussed the difficulties of managing the game with one.
On scoring his first goal for the Football Club...
It's been a great day. Funnily enough, I was thinking in the second half that I missed a big chance against Crewe last season at the Rainham End at home. I was thinking that, and that game ended 0-0. I was thinking that if I get a chance, hopefully I will put it away. Luckily, that one was a bit easier than the one that I had last season. I am buzzing.
I just want to say that the goal is for my family. We have had a really tough week. My whole family were at the ground today, so that meant a lot to all of us.
Beggars can't be choosers. I'm a centre half, I don't score many, so I would have taken it wherever it came, but to score the winner at the Rainham End in such a big game against a team that is unbeaten. Not just unbeaten, but have won every game, to keep us unbeaten. It feels amazing. To be in front of the Rainham End, I can't put that feeling into words right now.
The defensive efforts from the entire team...
It's not just us lads at the back, but Robbie [McKenzie], Smudge [Andy Smith] and Glenn [Morris] were excellent again today. You can't fault them. The work that the boys from the front get through. You look at Josh [Andrews], he runs himself into the floor. For a player that hasn't played a lot of football over the last couple of years, for him to do that is amazing. Nev [Elliott Nevitt] does the same.
We have got our wing-backs working tirelessly. They don't want to be back inside their own box defending. They want to be doing the nice stuff going forward, but they are doing it for the team. Then you have got the three in midfield. You look at Ethan [Coleman], he's playing with the biggest bandage on his head. He had one of the deepest cuts that I have seen in my life last Saturday, and he is back out there on Tuesday, and playing today again.
It is such a team. We work for each other, and that's why we're so hard to break down, I think.
Managing an early yellow card…
It’s tough. I think it was actually after about three minutes, and I tried not to let it creep into my game, but naturally, you’re thinking, ‘I’ve got to manage the best part of 90 minutes now on a yellow card’. Especially in League Two, where players are clever and they’re trying to lure you into getting second yellows.
It was a challenge. I think that I grew into the game more. It’s not often that I’ve had to do that, playing with a yellow card from early on, and it does change the way that you play. Especially for someone like me, who wants to be on the front foot and get stuck in.
I was against a very tricky winger, and he’s a good player that [Tommi] O’Reilly for them. It took a bit of adapting, but I thought in the second half, as a team, we protected ourselves a lot more. I didn’t really get too exposed in a situation where I risked picking up a second yellow.
What the past week has said about the team...
It says that we're able to do different variations of football and play different ways. Chesterfield was a bit more of an open game. They kept the ball on the deck, so it gave opportunities for transitions, and we really hurt them.
With Crewe today, especially in the first half, they were really good, and we had to hold on for a little bit and dig in. We did that, and we showed that we can be a strong team out of possession and still carry a threat. Even though in the first half I thought that Crewe were the better side, I thought that we still carried a big threat and are showing that we are adaptable.
It's a long season. It's great to still be unbeaten in the league. A 100% record at home. We have got to keep ticking over and take it game by game.
