Josh Andrews’ fine volley was not enough to spark a comeback as Gillingham were beaten 2-1 by Salford City at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
There were two changes made to the starting XI that lost at Grimsby. Shad Ogie and Sam Vokes came into the side in the place of Sam Gale and Jonny Williams, who missed out due to suspension.
Travis Akomeah and Aaron Rowe were named among the substitutes.
Gills were forced into an early substitution when Glenn Morris went down with some clear discomfort. He was unable to continue, and Jake Turner entered the game in his place.
Daniel Udoh opened the scoring for Salford after seven minutes. Kallum Cesay made a run through the middle, taking the ball past multiple players before playing a through ball for Udoh. He raced through on goal and was closed down by Turner before slotting it beyond the Gills keeper and into the bottom corner.
The hosts needed just a touch to equalise soon after. Bradley Dack floated a corner towards the back post, which Robbie McKenzie headed back across the six-yard box. The ball would not fall to Seb Palmer-Houlden, who was unmarked as the visitors cleared their lines.
In the 22nd minute, Gillingham were awarded a penalty when Ethan Coleman was kicked inside the penalty area.
From the resulting spot kick, Dack saw his attempt well-saved by Matt Young. The Gills captain on the day placed his penalty towards the bottom left corner, which Young did well to get down and push away from the danger.
Cesay doubled Salford’s advantage after 27 minutes. Ben Woodburn slipped a pass through for Cesay, who entered the penalty area and rounded Turner. He slotted the ball into the back of the net, and despite the best efforts of Andy Smith, he could not keep it out.
Turner had to be alert to deny Luke Garbutt shortly after. He received the ball from a free-kick before sending a low-driven shot goalward from over 20 yards out. Garbutt’s attempt took a deflection on its way to the goal, forcing Turner to react quickly, as he readjusted to get down and palm the shot away.
Josh Andrews pulled a goal back for Gillingham in the 36th minute. Remeao Hutton’s lofted pass found Palmer-Houlden on the edge of the box, and he saw his attempt blocked. Coleman won possession back, and Vokes flicked the ball on in the direction of Andrews. He kept it alive with his first touch before drilling a volley into the bottom corner at the near post, leaving Young with no chance.
McKenzie forced Young into action soon after. Andrews did well to meet a ball forward before lofting it in behind for Vokes to latch onto. He carried it towards the penalty area and curled a cross deep towards the back post, which McKenzie met. Unfortunately, his header lacked the power to test Young, who gathered the attempt.
Cesay continued to cause Gillingham problems when he was given the space to shoot from 20 yards out. He sent a low driven attempt goalward, which fizzed past the goal.
Soon after, Cesay ran through the middle and played Udoh through. The Salford forward struck a fierce attempt goalward, with his effort dipping just over the crossbar.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-2 Salford City
Gills came close to equalising twice in quick succession. The first came when a corner into the box found Andrews, who headed it down towards the goal. The ball beat Young, but it was cleared off the line.
Salford could not clear their lines, and Gills regained possession as the ball was played out to Dack on the left side of the box in acres of space. He curled a first-time effort towards the far corner, which had plenty of pace on it. However, Young did well to get two solid hands behind the ball to push it away from the danger.
In the 55th minute, Palmer-Houlden’s effort somehow failed to hit the back of the net. He used his pace and power to get down the left wing before outmuscling a defender as he entered the penalty area. The forward got a sliding shot away, which seemed destined to go in the goal, but a last-ditch sliding block by Adebola Oluwo sent the ball just wide of the post.
Gills made their second substitution just after the hour when Armani Little replaced Dack.
Kelly N’Mai came inches away from restoring Salford’s two-goal lead. They broke forward at pace, with N’Mai entering the penalty area and shifting the ball onto his right foot. He aimed his shot towards the near left post, with his attempt beating Turner. Fortunately, it went the other side of the post, with the ball nestling into the side netting.
With ten minutes remaining, Gillingham made a triple substitution. Elliott Nevitt, Aaron Rowe and Marcus Wyllie entered the game, replacing Coleman, Andrews and Palmer-Houlden.
Vokes had a half-chance in stoppage time when he met Nevitt’s cross. However, his speculative overhead hook goalward was straight at Young.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-2 Salford City
Gillingham: Morris (Turner 5’), Hutton, A. Smith, Ogie, Clark, Coleman (Nevitt 81’), McKenzie, Dack (Little 61’), Palmer-Houlden (Wyllie 81’), Andrews (Rowe 81’), Vokes
Unused Substitutes: Akomeah, Cirino
Salford City: Young, Turton, Oluwo, Garbutt, Cooper, Ashley (Butcher 33’), Woodburn (Austerfield 67’), Cesay, Harris, Udoh, N’Mai (Borini 79’)
Unused Substitutes: Howard, Grant, Stockton, Longelo
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 6174 (89 away fans)
