Sam Curtis’ first-half goal proved the difference as Chesterfield beat Gillingham 1-0 at the SMH Group Stadium on Tuesday night.
Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to the team that lost at Crewe, as Andy Smith, Sam Gale, Bradley Dack and Josh Andrews came into the starting XI. Travis Akomeah, Ethan Coleman, Garath McCleary and Sam Vokes dropped to the bench.
Smith nearly had the chance to open the scoring in the ninth minute. Dack’s free-kick into the penalty area was headed as far as Robbie McKenzie, who headed it back into the box. Andrews flicked it on to Smith, who latched onto it on the edge of the six-yard box. Unfortunately, he could not bring it under his control, and it trickled into the arms of Zach Hemming.
Ronan Hale forced Hemming into action soon after. Dack’s ball down the left was over the top of the Chesterfield defence, which allowed Hale to chase and get in behind. He did well to carry the ball towards the goal before cutting inside and shooting. However, his low drive towards the near post was pushed away by Hemming.
Sam Curtis fired Chesterfield in front after 16 minutes. Liam Mandeville’s corner was flicked towards the back post by Sil Swinkels, where the ball eventually made its way to Curtis, who forced the ball home from inside the six-yard box.
In the 35th minute, McKenzie flashed an effort wide of the goal. Max Clark’s corner was headed clear before the ball eventually dropped to McKenzie just inside the box. The midfielder struck it first time on the volley, striking with plenty of power. It left Hemming rooted to his spot, but it flashed wide of the right post.
Tom Pearce forced Morris into action soon after. He carried the ball near the box before sending a low drive towards the bottom left corner. The Gills goalkeeper did well to get down and push it away from the oncoming Chesterfield players that were closing in on the rebound, as the visitors cleared their lines.
HALF-TIME: Chesterfield 1-0 Gillingham
McKenzie had a half-chance to start the second period. Remeao Hutton did well to get beyond a Chesterfield player before floating the ball towards the penalty spot. McKenzie met it unchallenged, but could not direct his header on target, and it went wide of the post.
Hemming saved from Andrews moments later. A cross from the right was headed clear as far as Clark, who angled a cross into the middle of the penalty area. It found Andrews, but the striker could not generate enough power in his header to test the Chesterfield goalkeeper, who gathered.
The visitors continued to apply pressure in the opening moments of the half, as Clark’s corner caused issues. Hemming failed in his attempt to claim the cross as it dropped to Andrews from six yards out. The forward could not direct it goalward, as it eventually came to Gale, who laid it back to Dack on the edge of the penalty area. He tried curling it towards the top right corner, but missed the target.
Gills continued to apply pressure as they went in search of an equaliser. They were camped outside the Chesterfield penalty area, sending crosses into the box before Hale got the ball on the left, cut inside and shot. His attempt was blocked behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Clark prevented Chesterfield from doubling their lead just after the hour, as two substitutes for the hosts combined. James Berry did well to float the ball across the box from the dead-ball line, finding the oncoming Tom Naylor at the back post. He sent a first-time effort goalward, which looked destined to end up in the back of the net, but Clark recovered just in time to get on the line to block the attempt.
Dylan Duffy came inches away from scoring a fantastic goal for the hosts. He had the ball on the edge of the penalty area, to the right of the centre, before shifting it onto his left foot and bending a shot towards the far corner. It seemed that the ball was going to nestle into the top left corner, but it curled just wide of the goal.
In the 66th minute, Gills made their first two changes, as McCleary and Vokes replaced Hutton and Andrews respectively.
Morris did well to save from Duffy with 15 minutes remaining. Chesterfield broke forward as the ball was played for Duffy to drive towards the Gills box. He had one defender in front of him as he brought the ball onto his left foot before directing a shot towards the bottom left corner. The Gillingham goalkeeper got down to make the save before gathering at the second attempt.
Dack had a good opportunity soon after. Hemming could not deal with Clark's corner from the right, which he parried into a dangerous area. Dack was the first to meet the loose ball, floating a header from 10 yards goalward. Unfortunately, it went over the crossbar before landing on the roof of the net.
In the 81st minute, Cameron Antwi entered the game, replacing Armani Little.
With four minutes remaining, Gillingham made their final two substitutions, as Coleman and Seb Palmer-Houlden replaced Dack and McKenzie.
Pearce was inches away from putting the game to bed in the final seconds of regulation. With the game stretched, he was played through down the left side of the box, with a clear path to goal. He directed a low drive towards the far bottom corner, but it went just wide of the post.
Gills went in search of an equaliser in stoppage time, but could not conjure up one final chance, as they fell to defeat.
FULL-TIME: Chesterfield 1-0 Gillingham
Chesterfield: Hemming, Curtis, Dunkley, Swinkels, Pearce, Braybrooke, Stirk, Markanday (Naylor 60’), Mandeville (Duffy 60’), Dobra (Berry 61’), Grigg (Ladapo 78’)
Unused Substitutes: Donacien, McFadzean, Dickson
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton (McCleary 66’), A. Smith, Beckles, Gale, Clark, Little (Antwi 81’), McKenzie (Palmer-Houlden 86’), Dack (Coleman 86’), Andrews (Vokes 66’), Hale
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Akomeah
Referee: Will Finnie
Attendance: 7520 (282 Gillingham supporters)
