Max Clark’s stunning half-volley in the second half proved the difference as Gillingham got back to winning ways against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.
The left-back could have given the visitors a first-half lead when Gills were awarded a penalty. However, his attempt down the middle was saved by Luke Southwood.
Clark would not give Southwood the same privilege in the second-half. In the 54th minute, Remeao Hutton’s cross was cleared as far as the left-back, who took a touch before striking a perfect half-volley from 20 yards. His effort left Southwood with no hopes of keeping it out, and it nestled into the far top corner, causing bedlam among the 1053 travelling supporters.
Bristol Rovers threw everything at Gillingham in the dying moments, as the visitors defended heroically. Jake Turner did brilliantly to react and push a header from close range onto the crossbar before Bradley Dack cleared Freddie Issaka’s shot off the line.
There were two changes to the Gillingham starting XI that lost on penalties at Newport County in the FA Cup. Seb Palmer-Houlden and Nelson Khumbeni, who came off the bench in the game, were named in the line-up. Armani Little missed the fixture while Bradley Dack was named among the substitutes.
Garath McCleary and Jonny Smith were involved with the matchday squad following their injury layoffs. Taite Holtam provided goalkeeping cover.
Tom Lockyer had a half-chance after 11 minutes. Joel Cotterill took a short corner before the ball was curled into the penalty area. It found the head of Lockyer, who saw his header go over the crossbar.
Turner made a massive save soon after to deny Fabrizio Cavegn. A through ball was played by Shaq Forde, allowing Cavegn to get in behind the Gillingham defence and into the penalty area, with just the goalkeeper to beat. The Bristol Rovers forward tried to slot it past Turner at his near post, but the Gills keeper did well to remain alert, saving with his feet.
The hosts continued their pressure from the resulting corner, as Alfie Chang had a free strike at goal from the edge of the penalty area. However, there were multiple Gillingham players on hand to throw themselves at the ball to block the attempt.
Josh Andrews did well to get a shot away in the 17th minute. A ball was played down the left-hand side, and Andrews took the ball away from the feet of a defender. The striker shifted the ball onto his right foot before shooting, but his attempt towards the near post nestled into the side netting.
In the 29th minute, Gillingham were awarded a penalty. Max Clark’s corner was swung towards the back post, where Sam Gale was dragged down to the ground, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Clark stepped up to take the spot kick and was denied by Luke Southwood. The left-back went central, but the Bristol Rovers goalkeeper stood his ground and parried it before gathering at the second attempt.
Stephan Negru missed a gilt-edged chance in the 36th minute. Forde got down the right wing before playing a ball across the face of the six-yard box. It reached Negru at the back post, who had the entirety of the goal to aim at from a couple of yards out. Fortunately, he cleared the crossbar, as the visitors had a huge let-off.
Gills looked to end the half strongly, as they came close to breaking the deadlock. Gale slipped a pass down the left side of the penalty area for Khumbeni, who looped a cross towards the back post. It found Remeao Hutton, who cut the ball back towards the penalty spot, finding Andrews. The forward did well to hook the ball goalward, with it heading towards the bottom corner. However, there was a defender on the line to clear it away.
HALF-TIME: Bristol Rovers 0-0 Gillingham
The visitors were unable to put the ball in the back of the net during the opening moments of the second half. Hutton’s corner was curled towards the back post, with Palmer-Houlden and Andrews both waiting. They attempted to poke the ball goalward, but could not, as Bristol Rovers eventually dealt with the danger.
Cotterill tried his luck from 25 yards, sending a low drive towards the bottom left corner. It went wide of the target, with Turner having it covered.
Moments later, Clark opened the scoring with a stunning strike. Hutton's cross from the right was cleared as far as the left-back, who took a touch before hitting a half-volley goalward. Clark made the perfect connection with the ball, as his strike from 20 yards swerved into the far top corner, causing pandemonium among the 1053 Gillingham supporters.
Chang forced Turner into action when his shot from a central position was palmed clear. The rebound fell nicely to Macauley Southam-Hales, who could not get the right connection with the ball, as his shot went into a crowd of players, allowing Gillingham to clear.
Chang had another good opportunity when he fired just wide. The Bristol Rovers midfielder did well to take the ball beyond Khumbeni, shifting it onto his right foot, before sending a low drive towards the bottom right corner. Fortunately, it fizzed past the post.
Gills made their first two substitutions after 76 minutes, as Dack and Shad Ogie replaced Khumbeni and Andrews.
The visitors made another two changes eight minutes later, with McCleary and Aaron Rowe entering the game in the place of Palmer-Houlden and Nevitt.
Gillingham defended valiantly during the seven minutes of added time. Bristol Rovers threw everything and came inches away from equalising twice in the dying seconds. Turner did fantastically to push Kamil Conteh’s header from point-blank range onto the crossbar, before Dack was on hand to clear Freddie Issaka’s shot off the line, as the visitors held on for all three points.
FULL-TIME: Bristol Rovers 0-1 Gillingham
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Bilongo (Issaka 74’), Mola, Southam-Hales, Negru, Lockyer (Sparkes 82’), Chang, Cotterill (Conteh 73’), Cavegn, Sotiriou (Dewsbury 83’), Forde (Thomas 68’)
Unused Substitutes: Young, Moore
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, A. Smith, McKenzie, Gale, Clark, Coleman, Khumbeni (Dack 77’), Palmer-Houlden (McCleary 84’), Nevitt (Rowe 84’), Andrews (Ogie 76’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, J. Smith, Vokes
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 8056 (1053 Gillingham supporters)
