Ronan Hale scored his first two Gillingham goals on his full home debut to help secure an important 2-1 win against Tranmere Rovers at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
The Northern Ireland international opened his account for the Football Club in the 25th minute. Bradley Dack’s corner was cleared as far as Armani Little, who headed the ball back towards the goal. Hale did well to keep himself onside, reacting the quickest to latch onto the ball, volleying it into the bottom left corner.
Hale scored his second midway through the second-half with a smart header. Max Clark’s corner was curled towards the six-yard box, where the forward did well to peel away from his marker before guiding a header past Marko Marosi.
Charlie Whitaker pulled a goal back for Tranmere with a little over ten minutes remaining, as his smart curling effort from the edge of the penalty area found the bottom corner, but the Gills hung on for all three points.
Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to the team that lost at Notts County, as Remeao Hutton, Garath McCleary, Bradley Dack and Sam Vokes came into the starting XI. Sam Gale, Robbie McKenzie, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Josh Andrews were named among the substitutes, while Andy Smith returned to the matchday squad.
Hale had the first shot of the game after three minutes. He was allowed to take the ball inside from the left onto his right foot before shooting from distance. His attempt took a slight deflection as it cleared the crossbar for a corner, which the visitors dealt with.
Marko Marosi did well to deny the hosts twice in a matter of seconds. The first chance came after Vokes’ low centre was cleared back to him, and he deftly headed the ball down for McCleary to latch onto. The winger took a touch before sending a shot towards the far corner, which Marosi did well to palm clear.
The ball came out to Ethan Coleman on the edge of the penalty area, who set himself before shooting, with the crowd encouraging him. Coleman thumped it goalward, but Marosi was equal to it, as he got two solid hands behind it to push it away from the danger.
Gills continued to apply pressure, as McCleary whipped a left-footed attempt goalward from 20 yards. However, it curled into Marosi’s path and he caught the attempt.
Vokes was the next man to try his luck in the 13th minute. The ball was played out to McCleary, who did well to bring it under his control before carrying the ball inside. He laid it off to Vokes, who was 20 yards from the goal, and he attempted to chip it towards the far top corner. It had Marosi backpedalling for a moment, but it just cleared the crossbar.
In the 25th minute, Hale scored his first Gillingham goal. Dack’s corner from the left was cleared as far as Armani Little, who rose the highest to head the ball back towards the goal. Hale did well to remain onside before volleying on the turn, sending the ball past Marosi and into the bottom left corner.
Sam Finley came close soon after making his way into the Gillingham half. He had the time and space to get a shot away from over 25 yards out, sending a low drive towards the bottom left corner. Fortunately, it fizzed just wide of Glenn Morris’ post.
The visitors were inches away from equalising on the stroke of half-time. Charlie Whitaker did well to hold off the challenge of Coleman before playing a low cross towards the back post. Joe Ironside came sliding in to make the final contact, but it was just out of his reach, and the ball dribbled out of play.
Gills nearly doubled their tally in the final seconds of the half. Little did well to keep possession before passing to Dack, who threaded a through ball for Vokes to latch onto inside the box. The former Wales international tried squaring it for Hale to push into the back of the net, but it was just out of his reach, as it trickled away from the goal and out for a goal-kick.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere started the second half brightly and were denied by a strong Morris save. Zech Obiero carried the ball into the box before getting a left-footed shot away. Morris had started to come off his line to close the angle before pushing the ball wide of the goal for a corner.
In the 53rd minute, McCleary nearly made it two after fine work from Hale. The Northern Ireland international did well to carry the ball down the left before cutting it back across the box. It just evaded Vokes before finding McCleary, who shifted it onto his left foot before shooting, with his attempt going just wide of the target.
Omari Patrick saw an attempt from distance clear the crossbar in the 59th minute. He did well to hold off the challenge of Coleman before setting himself and thumping goalward. Fortunately, it was always rising and it cleared the crossbar.
In the 63rd minute, Gillingham made a triple substitution. McKenzie, Andrews and Gale entered the game, replacing Dack, Vokes and McCleary respectively.
Moments later, Hale doubled his and Gillingham’s account. Max Clark curled a corner from the right towards the six-yard box, which was met by Hale, who had peeled away from his marker. The forward did well to adjust himself, guiding his header past Marosi and into the back of the net.
Travis Akomeah had a half-chance to make it three in the 73rd minute. Little sent a left-footed cross into the box, and with the Tranmere defence stretched, Akomeah found himself in acres of space inside the penalty area. Unfortunately, the Watford loanee could not make clear contact, and he sent his first-time effort wide of the goal.
Whitaker pulled a goal back for the visitors after 78 minutes. A free-kick was sent towards the Gills penalty area, which was headed out as far as Max Dickov, who laid it off for Whitaker to curl a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Gills made another change a couple of minutes later when Palmer-Houlden replaced Hale.
Cameron Norman came close for the visitors as they went in search of a late equaliser. He cut the ball onto his left foot before shooting, with his attempt taking a slight deflection on its way to the goal. There was a moment of panic, as it looked like it could sneak into the bottom corner, but it went wide.
From the resulting corner, Norman rose the highest, sending a header towards the goal. Fortunately, it lacked the power, as Morris collected it.
Gillingham did well to see the game out, defending well for a barrage of late corners to hold on to all three points.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Akomeah, Beckles, Clark, Coleman, Little, McCleary (Gale 63’), Dack (McKenzie 63’), Hale (Palmer-Houlden 80’), Vokes (Andrews 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, A. Smith, Antwi
Tranmere Rovers: Marosi, Brough, N. Smith, Whitaker, Finley, Patrick, Warrington, Plant (Norman 71’), Negru (Lowe 81’), Ironside (Dennis 74’), Obiero (Dickov 72’)
Unused Substitutes: Barrett, McGowan, Kenneh
Referee: Craig Hicks
Attendance: 5564 (244)
