Gillingham fell to a 3-1 defeat against Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Gareth Ainsworth named an unchanged starting XI from the previous league fixture at Rotherham, which the Gills won 4-1. Garath McCleary came back into the matchday squad in the place of Cameron Antwi, who missed out. Lamin Sillah kept his place in attack.
Harry Waldock was denied by an excellent sliding challenge in the fourth minute. James Brophy did well to win possession on halfway before bursting through the middle. Waldock was making a run between two defenders and was slipped through by Brophy. However, when the Gills academy graduate got his strike off, an Accrington defender got across to make the all-important block.
Omar Beckles had a half-chance soon after. Accrington could not clear their lines following a Robbie McKenzie long throw. The ball eventually went out to Nick Freeman, who pulled it back for Beckles, but the central defender could not make clear contact with his attempt, and he sliced it over the crossbar.
In the 11th minute, Stefan Mols gave the hosts the lead. There was a defensive mix-up that allowed Mols to capitalise, and he eventually slid the ball into the back of the net from close range.
McKenzie had a good opportunity immediately after. Sillah did well to slip the ball through for the midfielder, who made a bursting run through the middle. McKenzie found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his attempted shot towards the bottom left corner was dragged well wide of the target.
Devon Matthews had a great chance in the 22nd minute. Mols curled a free-kick towards the penalty spot, and Matthews reacted quickest, getting on the end of it unchallenged. Fortunately, he flashed his sliding effort wide of the goal.
In the 28th minute, Josh Woods doubled Accrington’s advantage. Mols curled a corner from the right towards the front of the six-yard box, and Woods met it unchallenged and thumped his header beyond Ollie Wright.
The hosts had a fantastic opportunity to make it three moments later. Mols had the ball on the edge of the box before slipping it in behind for Connor O’Brien. He fizzed the ball across the face of the goal, but no one was on hand to capitalise.
Beckles pulled a goal back just after the half-hour. Armani Little’s cross-field pass towards the right touchline was brought down by Freeman, who then sent a low ball into the penalty area. It found Beckles, who prodded it goalward, and the ball found the far corner via a deflection.
HALF-TIME: Accrington Stanley 2-1 Gillingham
Woods had the first chance of the second period when he shot from 20 yards out, but his low drive was too central, allowing Wright to get down and gather.
In the 54th minute, Gillingham made a triple substitution with Jack Daley, Ethan Coleman and Tom Eaves replacing Logan Dobbs, Waldock and Little respectively.
Woods continued to cause the Gills issues as he forced Wright into action. After a fine passing sequence, the ball came to Woods, who was allowed to make his way towards the box and struck a low drive from 20 yards out. It took a slight deflection on its way to the goal, but Wright got down to push it around the post for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Woods had another chance. Coleman initially headed the set piece clear, but the hosts won back possession, with Woods receiving it in space inside the box. He directed his shot towards the far top corner, but could not keep it down, and it went over the bar.
O’Brien had a header on goal when he rose the highest to head Dave Tutonda’s cross down towards the goal. Fortunately, it was straight at Wright, who gathered.
In the 66th minute, Woods finally scored his second, and Accrington’s third. Mols curled a corner towards the six-yard box, and Woods got ahead of his marker to send a bullet header into the top left corner, leaving Wright with no chance of keeping it out.
Gillingham made their final two changes after 70 minutes, as Bradley Dack and McCleary replaced Sillah and Andy Smith.
Mols came inches away from adding a fourth. He had the ball on the right corner of the penalty area and curled an effort towards the top left corner. Fortunately, it whistled just wide of the post.
Conor Grant hit the woodwork when the chance to shoot from distance opened up. He struck his attempt with plenty of power, but it clipped the outside of the post before going behind.
Wright had to be alert to deny Woods in the closing stages. The hosts broke forward and had a man advantage. The ball was played back to him, and he curled goalward, but it was at a good height for Wright to push clear.
FULL-TIME: Accrington Stanley 3-1 Gillingham
Accrington Stanley: Moulden, Love, Mols, Borland, Matthews, Anderson, Walton, Warren (Grant 76’), Tutonda, O’Brien, Woods
Unused Substitutes: Rogerson, O. Smith, Moore, Brown, J. Smith
Gillingham: Wright, Smith (McCleary 70’), Beckles, Dobbs (Daley 54’), Freeman, McKenzie, Little (Eaves 54’), Brophy, Waldock (Coleman 54’), Hale, Sillah (Dack 70’)
Unused Substitutes: Luthra, Kendall
Referee: Will Finnie
Attendance: 1874 (300 Gillingham supporters)
