Gillingham opened the 2025/26 season with a hard-fought point, as they drew 1-1 against Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Tyler Walton opened the scoring for the hosts in the 66th minute with a fine solo goal. He did brilliantly to get beyond two Gillingham defenders before slotting the ball into the far bottom corner.
Gills drew level with a little over ten minutes remaining when Armani Little’s corner was flicked into the back of the net by Accrington’s Devon Matthews.
Gareth Ainsworth named Armani Little as his captain for the opening day fixture at Accrington Stanley. Conor Masterson and Shad Ogie were at the heart of the defence, while Joe Gbode and Bradley Dack offered Elliott Nevitt support in attack.
Donald Love had the first shot of the game in the fourth minute. Ogie’s headed clearance went out to the Accrington Stanley right wing-back, who had time and space. However, he opted to shoot first time from 30 yards out. His powerful strike had plenty of movement, but it was always going well wide of the target.
Gills had a half-chance after 26 minutes. Max Clark curled a corner towards the back post, where an unmarked Masterson and Robbie McKenzie lying in wait. Masterson looked the favourite to make the first contact, running onto it, but McKenzie got a shot away, sending it over the crossbar.
Farrend Rawson headed wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area ten minutes before half-time. Ben Woods curled a free-kick towards the box, which was glanced goalward by Rawson. However, it was never troubling Glenn Morris, and it bounced wide.
Gbode tried his luck soon after. Gills won possession halfway inside the Accrington half, as Jonny Williams carried the ball forward. He offloaded it to Gbode, who shifted the ball onto his right foot before shooting. Unfortunately, he could not keep it down, and it curled over the frame of the goal.
Gills had a huge let-off just before the break. Tyler Walton was chasing down a loose ball in behind the Gillingham defence and beat Morris to the ball. However, the Gillingham goalkeeper got a vital touch, putting Walton off as he played the ball out of play for a goal kick.
HALF-TIME: Accrington Stanley 0-0 Gillingham
Shortly after the break, Morris was called into action after Accrington won possession near the Gillingham penalty area. Walton made his way into the box before sending the ball goalward. Fortunately, it was at a comfortable height for Morris, who gathered at his near post.
In the 67th minute, Tyler Walton gave Accrington the lead. He did brilliantly, holding onto the ball, carrying it into the penalty area before his close footwork took the ball beyond two Gillingham defenders. He remained composed, stroking the ball into the far bottom corner of the net.
Gills made their first two changes in the 74th minute, as Nelson Khumbeni and Josh Andrews replaced Dack and Jonny Williams respectively.
Matthews was denied at point blank range by Morris, who prevented it from becoming two. Ben Woods curled the ball towards the back post, and it was met by Matthews, who headed down into the ground. Morris did enough to block the ball with his body before the visitors cleared their lines.
In the 79th minute, Gillingham were level. Little curled a corner towards the near post, which had Nevitt and Andrews closing in. However, it was Matthews who got the definitive touch, flicking a header into the far corner of his own net, bringing Gillingham back onto level terms.
Marcus Wyllie replaced Nevitt on 81 minutes.
Gills made their final change four minutes later, as Sam Gale came on for Gbode. That saw a change of system, as the visitors operated with a back five with Andrews and Wyllie leading the line.
The visitors resisted late pressure to secure a point on the road.
FULL-TIME: Accrington Stanley 1-1 Gillingham
Accrington Stanley: Kelly, Matthews, Rawson, Smith, Love, Grant, Coyle, B. Woods, Sinclair, Walton (Mooney 85’), Caton (J. Woods 58’)
Unused Substitutes: Wright, Henderson, Popoola, Brown, Conneely
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Little, McKenzie, J. Williams (Andrews 74’), Dack (Khumbeni 74’), Gbode (Gale 85’), Nevitt (Wyllie 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Smith, Coleman
Referee: Ollie Yates
Attendance: 2302 (610 Gillingham supporters)
