Stephen Duke-McKenna’s first half goal proved the difference as Harrogate Town beat Gillingham 1-0 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Gareth Ainsworth named an unchanged starting XI after Gills came from behind to beat Newport County in their last fixture. Garath McCleary returned to the bench following his two-game suspension.
Gills had a good opportunity in the opening minutes. Max Clark’s corner was headed around the six-yard box before it dropped to Bradley Dack, who smacked a volley goalward. Unfortunately, he could not keep it down as it flew over the target.
In the 16th minute, Stephen Duke-McKenna opened the scoring for the visitors. The Harrogate winger was allowed to carry the ball inside on his left foot before shooting from 20 yards in a central position and finding the bottom left corner.
Ellis Taylor came close to doubling the Harrogate advantage moments later. Gillingham could not clear their lines, and Taylor tried his luck from the edge of the box, with his left-footed attempt curling just wide of the target.
Josh Andrews almost brought Gillingham back on level terms minutes later. Remeao Hutton’s long throw into the box was flicked goalward by the forward, with his header looping underneath the crossbar. James Belshaw in the Harrogate goal was back-pedalling and had to push the ball over the goal for a corner, which came to nothing.
Glenn Morris made a routine save to deny Taylor, who tried his luck from 25 yards. His attempt had the power, but it was straight at Morris, who parried it down before gathering.
A crucial last-ditch header by Warren Burrell prevented Andrews from making it one apiece. Hutton curled a cross deep towards the back post, finding Elliott Nevitt, who headed it back into the six-yard box. Andrews was waiting to nod the ball into an empty net, but Burrell appeared at the final second to head over the crossbar for a corner.
Jonny Smith forced Belshaw into action soon after. The winger picked up a loose ball before cutting inside onto his left foot and sending a low driven effort towards the bottom left corner. Belshaw got across, getting two solid hands onto the ball to push it behind.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Harrogate Town
Gills made a half-time change, with Ethan Coleman replacing Dack.
Nevitt was denied by a brilliant block in the 53rd minute. Jonny Williams dinked a pass between two players, finding the forward. Nevitt shifted the ball onto his right foot before thumping a curling strike goalward. It seemed destined to cause Belshaw problems, but there was brave defending from the visitors, with one player standing firm to head clear.
McCleary entered the game just after the hour, replacing Jonny Smith.
Andrews came close when he connected with Clark’s header, sending his effort just wide of the post.
In the 68th minute, Gills made their last three substitutions. Seb Palmer-Houlden, Sam Vokes and Aaron Rowe replaced Nevitt, Vokes and Robbie McKenzie respectively.
Conor McAleny came close for Harrogate as they broke forward with less than ten minutes remaining. They moved up the pitch down the left-hand side before the ball was cut back to McAleny on the edge of the penalty area. He shot goalward, and a slight deflection off a Gillingham player took it wide of the target for a corner kick.
Coleman came close with a couple of minutes remaining. Jonny Williams’ corner found the midfielder, who rose the highest to glance a header towards the back post. Unfortunately, his attempt went just wide of the goal.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Harrogate Town
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, A. Smith, Gale, Clark, McKenzie (Rowe 68’), J. Williams, J. Smith (McCleary 61’), Dack (Coleman 46’), Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden 68’), Andrews (Vokes 68’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Ogie
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Burrell, O’Connor, Faulkner, Slater, Morris, Evans, Duke-McKenna, Taylor (McAleny 73’), Smith (Sutton 90’), Muldoon (Bennett 65’)
Unused Substitutes: Oxley, Bradbury, McCoulsky, Fox
Referee: James Bell
Attendance: 7406 (85 away fans)
