Garath McCleary came off the bench to win a penalty and head home the winner as Gillingham battled back from behind twice to beat Newport County 3-2 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Newport took an early lead through Michael Spellman before Gills equalised on the half-hour through Conor Masterson, who met Max Clark’s curling cross with a thumping header.
Cameron Antwi gave the visitors the lead again with six minutes remaining when he guided a shot from 20 yards into the bottom left corner.
In the final seconds, Gillingham were awarded a penalty when sub McCleary was brought down inside the penalty area. Armani Little stepped up and showed great composure, firing his shot into the right side of the net, sending Jordan Wright the wrong way.
In the tenth minute of additional time, McCleary headed home his first goal for the Football Club. Clark sent a high-looping ball into the six-yard box, where the winger outjumped the defender to head goalward, with his attempt hitting the underside of the crossbar and bouncing over the line.
Glenn Morris pulled off a superb save in the closing moments when James Crole hooked a volley goalward. It looked as if it was going to nestle into the bottom corner until Morris got across to claw clear of the goal.
Glenn Morris made his return to the starting XI as Gillingham hosted Newport County in their first game at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium in 2026.
Jonny Smith came into the side, with Jake Turner, Ethan Coleman and Elliott Nevitt dropping to the bench. McCleary was fit to be named among the substitutes.
The Gills shot stopper was called into immediate action, showing great reaction speed to deny Harrison Biggins. The visitors broke down the left wing before it was cutback towards the edge of the penalty area for Biggins, who sent a low drive towards the bottom corner. Morris got down to it to palm behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Sam Gale made a goal line clearance after Lee Jenkins sent the ball goalward. The hosts could not clear their lines, with Newport continuing to apply pressure. Ryan Delaney then looped a header towards the far left corner, which Morris did brilliantly to claw off the line.
The visitors were first to rebound, where they took the lead. There were multiple players lying in wait to meet the ball, with Michael Spellman heading the ball across the goal and into the far corner, leaving Morris rooted to his spot.
In the 11th minute, Aaron Rowe had a header blocked behind for a corner. Bradley Dack switched the play out to Jonny Smith on the right wing, who crossed towards the back post, finding Rowe. He nodded it down, but a Newport defender was in the way to send it behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Jonny Smith came close to equalising when he won possession inside the Newport penalty area. He set himself before shooting, with his curling effort taking a deflection that took it over the crossbar.
From the resulting corner, the Wigan loanee had another attempt. Max Clark went short with a corner that Jonny Smith cut inside onto his left foot before aiming towards the far post. However, it cleared the goal.
Conor Masterson headed Gillingham back onto level terms on the half-hour. Rowe had the ball on the left side of the penalty area before he played it back to Clark, who curled a cross towards the back post. Masterson was lying in wait, unmarked, thumping a header across the goal and into the far top corner.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Newport County
Josh Andrews headed wide in the opening minutes of the second-half. The ball was played out to Jonny Smith on the right, who crossed towards Andrews. The forward met the ball from six yards out but could not adjust himself to take the ball on target.
In the 57th minute, Rowe forced Wright into action. He received the ball on the left and was allowed to travel with the ball, carrying it towards the Newport penalty area. The winger cut inside onto his right foot before sending a low drive towards the far bottom corner, with Wright doing well to get across and palm it away from the danger.
Andrews had two excellent chances to give the Gills the lead in a matter of minutes. The first came after Dack played a fantastic defence-splitting pass to get Rowe in behind the Newport defence. He squared it for Andrews, who side-footed his attempt at Wright in the Newport goal.
The hosts continued to apply pressure, and Jonny Smith played the ball forward for the underlapping Gale to latch onto. He carried on running into the penalty area and getting to the byline before playing the ball across the goal for Andrews at the back post, who could not keep his attempt down and his effort cleared the crossbar from a few yards out.
After the hour, there was a delay in the game due to an injury to one of the Assistant Referees, who was duly replaced by the Fourth Official. However, there was a wait to identify a qualified referee who could become the new Fourth Official. Following a stadium announcement, somebody in the crowd was identified and took on the position.
In the 70th minute, Gills made their first substitution, with McCleary replacing Jonny Smith.
After the delay, Jenkins forced Morris into a save. The visitors had a free-kick on halfway that was floated towards the Gillingham penalty area. It was headed down into Jenkins’ path, who side-footed a volley goalward. Morris made the initial save, backpedalling, before gathering at the second attempt.
Gale had a chance cleared off the line after a well-worked free-kick. Clark lofted the ball towards the back post, finding the unmarked Robbie McKenzie, who headed it back across the goal. It was then flicked on into Gale’s path, and he directed it towards the goal. Unfortunately, there were multiple players on the line to head clear.
In the 84th minute, Cameron Antwi, who had come on as a substitute, gave Newport the lead. Tanatswa Nyakuhwa played the ball to Antwi on the edge of the penalty area, who had the time to turn before sending his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Gills made two more substitutions shortly after, as Sam Vokes and Remeao Hutton replaced Andrews and Rowe respectively.
In the final moments of regulation, the hosts were awarded a penalty after McCleary was brought down inside the box.
Gillingham captain Armani Little took the spot kick, showing great composure, and he thumped his attempt into the right side of the net, with Wright guessing the other way.
Morris had to be alert to deny Bobby Kamwa. The Newport man did well to get beyond a couple of Gillingham players before curling a shot goalward. It was dipping as it went towards the goal, but Morris did well to get a solid hand behind it to push it over the crossbar.
In the tenth minute of stoppage time, McCleary headed Gillingham in front with his first goal for the Football Club. Clark sent a high-looping cross towards the six-yard box, finding McCleary, who did well to guide his header goalward. His attempt bounced off the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line, causing rapturous celebrations across the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Moments later, Gillingham made their final change, as Coleman replaced Dack.
Deep into stoppage time, Morris made a spectacular save. The visitors played the ball into the penalty area, finding James Crole, who hooked a volley goalward. Morris showed excellent reaction speed to get down to his left and claw it away from the danger.
Newport continued to apply pressure in their attempts to find a late equaliser, as Gillingham players threw themselves in front of attempts. The visitors had a big chance when the ball fell to a player on the edge of the penalty area, but his attempt was brilliantly blocked by Coleman, who came charging in, throwing himself at the effort.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 3-2 Newport County
Gillingham: Morris, Gale, A. Smith, Masterson, Clark, Little, McKenzie, Rowe (Hutton 87’), Dack (Coleman 90+12’), J. Smith (McCleary 70’), Andrews (Vokes 87’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Palmer-Houlden, Nevitt
Newport County: Wright, Shephard (Thomas 88’), Jenkins (Antwi 76’), Delaney, Baker, Glennon, M. Smith (Brennan 76’), Biggins, Kamwa, Opoku (Crole 89’), Spellman (Nyakuhwa 55’)
Unused Substitutes: Tzanev, Davies
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5548 (166 away fans)
