Charles Vernam’s second half penalty proved the difference, as nine-man Gillingham battled valiantly in defeat against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on Saturday.
The fantastic efforts of the Gills players were greatly appreciated by the 489 travelling supporters, who showed their pride in the team at the end.
Two changes were made to the starting XI that drew against Cheltenham Town in the previous league fixture. Bradley Dack and Josh Andrews came into the starting XI, replacing Shad Ogie and Sam Vokes, who dropped to the bench.
The visitors had an early half-chance after Dack did well to win the ball back after Remeao Hutton’s long throw had initially been dealt with. Dack curled a cross into the penalty area, finding Seb Palmer-Houlden. Unfortunately, he could not keep his header down, and it floated over the crossbar.
In the fifth minute, Vernam forced Glenn Morris into action when he picked the ball up 20 yards from the goal to the left of the centre. He curled a fierce effort goalward, which had plenty of power, but Morris was equal to it and he got across to catch the shot.
Palmer-Houlden nearly gave Gillingham the lead seconds later. Morris sent the ball long, which the Grimsby defence failed to deal with properly. Palmer-Houlden used his pace to pounce on the mistake, finding himself one-on-one with Christy Pym. The striker carried it towards the edge of the box before getting a shot away. However, Pym was equal to it, pushing it wide of the post for a corner that came to nothing.
In the 33rd minute, Hutton was shown a straight red card. He and Jaze Kabia tangled just inside the Gills half with the right-back as the last man at the time. The two tangled again after getting back onto their feet, and Kabia went to ground. The referee believed it was a foul and a red card offence.
Vernam came close shortly before half-time. He was allowed to cut inside onto his right foot before getting a shot away. He sent a low drive towards the near post, which Morris was equal to, getting down to push it away from the danger.
Jamie Walker was the next man to try his luck, cutting onto his right foot from the left before curling a strong effort goalward. His attempt looked dangerous, but ultimately went wide of the far corner of the net.
HALF-TIME: Grimsby Town 0-0 Gillingham
Kabia thought he had given Grimsby the lead in the opening seconds of the second half. Kieran Green’s cross deep into the Gillingham penalty area found Vernam, who headed back across the goal, and Morris pulled off a magnificent save to claw it off the line. However, Kabia was on hand to bundle the rebound over the line following a scramble. Fortunately for the Gills, he was in an offside position when Vernam had headed goalwards, so it was ruled out.
Morris was called into action again as he denied George McEachran. The hosts played their way into the Gillingham penalty area before the midfielder stabbed it goalward. However, Morris was equal to it, reacting quickly to make the save with his body.
In the 56th minute, Grimsby were awarded a penalty. The ball was played through for Kabia, who went shoulder to shoulder with Gale before going down, and the referee believed it was a foul and pointed to the spot.
From the resulting spot kick, Vernam slotted his shot into the bottom left corner with Morris going the opposite way.
Moments later, there was a double substitution with Vokes and Elliott Nevitt replacing Andrews and Palmer-Houlden respectively.
Jonny Williams was sent off for a second bookable offence after 63 minutes. After being booked three minutes prior, he had a collision with a Grimsby player off the ball and the linesman flagged for a foul, which the referee deemed enough to be a second bookable offence.
In response to the sending off, Armani Little made his return to the pitch when he replaced Dack.
Morris did brilliantly to deny Green after the hosts did well to work their way into the penalty area. The ball flicked around for Green, who got a shot away from the left side of the box, but Morris had come off his line to close the angle before making the save.
Gills made their final change with four minutes remaining when Lenni Cirino came on for Clark.
Gillingham continued to defend valiantly as Grimsby applied pressure on their penalty area. A cross from the left was headed by Gale and dropped to Green, who volleyed first time, but his dipping attempt went wide of the far post.
The visitors fought till the end and had one final set piece in the final seconds. Morris floated it into the penalty area, which Robbie McKenzie headed goalward. Unfortunately for the visiting fans, Pym claimed the ball and that was the final action of the game.
FULL-TIME: Grimsby Town 1-0 Gillingham
Grimsby Town: Pym, Sweeney, McJannet, Lavelle, Rodgers, McEachran, Green, Walker (Khouri 80’), Vernam (Soonsup-Bell 80’), Amaluzor, Kabia (Rose 88’)
Unused Substitutes: Casper, Svanthorsson, Warren, Oduor
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, Gale, Clark (Cirino 86’), Coleman, McKenzie, Dack (Little 65’), J. Williams, Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt 58’), Andrews (Vokes 59’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Ogie, Wyllie
Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle
Attendance: 6659 (489 Gillingham supporters)
