A brace from Armani Little, a debut goal from Lenni Cirino and a first league goal for Marcus Wyllie saw Gillingham beat Chesterfield 4-1 in what proved to be a memorable night at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday.
Little opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Chesterfield goalkeeper Zach Hemming brought down Josh Andrews. The midfielder stepped up and slotted his spot kick into the bottom left corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.
The Gillingham captain doubled his tally at the beginning of the second period from the penalty spot again. Elliott Nevitt was tripped by Ryan Stirk inside the box, leaving the referee with no choice but to award the penalty. Little kept his cool yet again, driving his shot into the bottom left corner, with Hemming going the opposite way.
Armando Dobra pulled a goal back for Chesterfield before Lenni Cirino scored to restore the two-goal advantage. Glenn Morris sent a long ball forward, which the Chesterfield defence allowed to bounce. Cirino capitalised, bringing it under his control before rifling his shot into the back of the net.
Marcus Wyllie capped off a perfect evening in stoppage time. Nelson Khumbeni did brilliantly to win possession on the left touchline before playing the perfect pass across the face of the penalty area. Wyllie was in the right place, as he slotted the ball past Hemming, making it four.
Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to the starting XI that drew at Tranmere Rovers at the weekend. Jonny Williams and Lenni Cirino came into the side in the place of Bradley Dack, who was named on the bench, and Max Clark, who missed the game due to suspension.
Joe Gbode, the scorer of the late equaliser at Tranmere, was named on the bench, while Sam Vokes was involved in the matchday squad for the first time since joining the Football Club.
Tom Naylor had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute. The ball was fizzed towards his feet inside the penalty area, and he had the time and space to bring it under control before turning. Naylor blasted a shot goalward after turning, with it flying wide of the target at Glenn Morris’ near post.
Josh Andrews did well to send a header goalward after 17 minutes. Remeao Hutton’s long throw was cleared as far as Jonny Williams, who played it back out to Hutton. His cross towards the penalty spot was a dangerous one, and Andrews came in with the diving header to send it goalward. His attempt hit a Chesterfield defender on its way to the goal, taking all the power off the effort, as Zach Hemming comfortably gathered.
Morris was called into action soon after. Ronan Darcy received the ball 20 yards from the goal before sending a low drive goalward. His attempt went through a sea of players, as Morris had to be alert. The Gills goalkeeper got down to palm the ball away from the goal before the linesman’s flag was raised for an offside on the follow-up.
The hosts had a penalty appeal when Jonny Williams went down inside the penalty area after slight contact. However, the referee stood firm and waved away any appeals.
In the 26th minute, Gillingham were awarded a penalty. A back pass intended for Hemming was wayward, giving Andrews the opportunity to beat the visiting goalkeeper to the ball. The pair collided as they both went to meet the ball, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Armani Little gave the hosts the lead from the resulting spot kick. The Gills captain coolly slotted his attempt into the bottom left corner, sending Hemming the opposite way.
Andrews had a great chance to make it two when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area. He had acres of space around him, garnering the right kind of power on his strike. Unfortunately, he dragged his shot wide of the far post.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Chesterfield
Gills won another penalty five minutes after half-time. The ball was ricocheting around the penalty area before dropping to Andrews, who played it to Elliott Nevitt. He did brilliantly to take it beyond two defenders before being brought down inside the box by Ryan Stirk.
Little remained composed to score his and Gillingham’s second. He drove his penalty into the bottom left corner, sending Hemming the opposite way.
Armando Dobra pulled a goal back for the visitors soon after. He played the ball out to Vontae Daley-Campbell on the right, who centred a low ball towards Will Grigg. He set it back for Dobra, who found the bottom corner with his shot.
Cirino restored Gillingham’s two-goal advantage three minutes later. Morris sent the ball forward, and the Chesterfield defence allowed it to bounce midway inside their half. Cirino capitalised, latching onto it before chesting it down and going through on goal. He remained calm, picking his spot and sending a thunderous strike past a hapless Hemming in the Chesterfield net.
Hutton tried his luck after Ethan Coleman prodded the ball in his direction. The right-back struck it first time with the outside of his boot, slicing it wide of the near post.
In the 68th minute, Aaron Rowe replaced Cirino.
Lee Bonis forced Morris into action when he got on the end of Liam Mandeville’s cross. However, his attempt was straight at the Gills goalkeeper, who easily gathered.
In the 81st minute, Vokes came on for his Gillingham debut, replacing Andrews. Marcus Wyllie entered the game, with Nevitt departing.
Dilan Markandy tried his luck from the right side of the penalty area, with his powerful effort striking the top part of the side netting, going wide of Morris’ near post.
Gills made their final two substitutions with three minutes remaining. Little and Jonny Williams were replaced by Nelson Khumbeni and Dack respectively.
Wyllie scored his first league goal in the first seconds of additional time. Khumbeni did brilliantly to win possession down by the left touchline before carrying the ball towards the penalty area and playing a low ball across the face of the box. It found Wyllie, who remained composed, slotting it beyond Hemming.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 4-1 Chesterfield
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, McKenzie, Gale, Cirino (Rowe 68’), Coleman, Little (Khumbeni 87’), J. Williams (Dack 87’), Andrews (Vokes 81’), Nevitt (Wyllie 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Gbode
Chesterfield: Hemming, Daley-Campbell (Mandeville 70’), Dunkley, McFadzean, Gordon (Lewis 87’), Naylor (Fleck 70’), Stirk, Markanday, Darcy (Duffy 77’), Dobra, Grigg (Bonis 70’)
Unused Substitutes: Boot, Grimes
Referee: Craig Hicks
Attendances: 5518 (281 away fans)
