Gillingham produced an impressive first-half turnaround, as a Bradley Dack brace inspired them to a record breaking 21 game unbeaten run in their 3-1 victory against Newport County at Rodney Parade.
Newport took a first minute lead when Nathaniel Opoku headed into the back of the net, and the hosts had a fantastic opportunity to double their advantage from the penalty spot. However, Glenn Morris made a superb save to deny Cameron Antwi.
Dack brought the Gills level after 23 minutes. Max Clark’s corner was flicked on by Elliott Nevitt, and the ball hit a Newport defender. The loose ball came perfectly to Dack, who slammed his side-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Jonny Smith gave the visitors the lead in the 36th minute. Having received the ball from Remeao Hutton, Smith used his burst of pace to break into the acres of space in front of him before curling a peach of a shot into the top corner, leaving a fully stretched Nik Tzanev with no chance.
On the stroke of half-time, Sam Gale was brought down inside the penalty area and Gillingham were awarded a penalty. Dack showed great composure, slotting his spot kick into the bottom left corner, squeezing it beyond Tzanev, who had gone the right way.
Gareth Ainsworth named an unchanged starting XI for the trip to Newport County, following the 1-0 win against Notts County at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium last Saturday.
Seb Palmer-Houlden was named in the matchday squad for the first time since joining the Football Club. Ethan Coleman returned to the bench after missing the previous league fixture.
Nathaniel Opoku headed Newport in front in the opening seconds of the game. Bobby Kamwa crossed from the right, finding Opoku inside the box, and he cushioned his header past Glenn Morris and into the back of the net.
In the eighth minute, Newport were awarded a penalty. Cameron Antwi made his way into the box and was tripped by Andy Smith, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Morris did brilliantly to save the resulting penalty. Antwi stepped up and directed his attempt towards the bottom left corner. The Gills goalkeeper got down to palm the shot away before Antwi sent the rebound wide of the target.
Antwi was again denied by Morris as he got in behind the Gillingham defence, managing to stay onside. From the right side of the penalty area, the Newport attacker aimed for the far corner. However, Morris reacted quickly to make another fine save.
Bradley Dack had a great chance after 13 minutes. Remeao Hutton curled a cross from the right, which found an unmarked Dack. The midfielder was at an awkward angle as he volleyed towards goal, and was unable to keep his shot down as it cleared the crossbar.
Jonny Williams was denied by Nik Tzanev in the 23rd minute. Gills regained possession after a short corner routine was initially cleared. The ball was passed around the penalty area before it was laid off to Jonny Williams on the edge of the box. The former Wales international sent a first-time left-footed effort goalward, which was pushed around the post by Tzanev for a corner.
From the resulting set piece, Dack equalised. Elliott Nevitt flicked on Max Clark’s corner towards the front post. It hit a Newport defender before coming out to Dack, who found himself on the edge of the penalty area with a free run at the ball. The man wearing the captain’s armband showed great composure to drive a first-time effort into the bottom right corner of the goal.
In the 36th minute, Jonny Smith scored his first goal for the Football Club. Hutton laid the ball back to Smith, who burst into the acres of space in front of him. The Wigan loanee then let fly from 25 yards, curling a superb effort into the top corner of the net.
Kamwa nearly equalised immediately. He did well to get into the penalty area before shooting from a tight angle. He attempted to squeeze the ball through Morris’ legs, but the Gills keeper saved with his feet. The ball came out to a Newport player, who mis-hit the rebound before the visitors cleared their lines.
Sam Gale won a penalty for the visitors on the stroke of half-time. He received the ball inside the box with his back to the goal. He did well to turn a defender and got beyond a couple of players before being brought down, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Dack scored his second and Gillingham’s third from the resulting penalty. He slotted his attempt into the bottom left corner, squeezing his shot past Tzanev, who had guessed the right way.
HALF-TIME: Newport County 1-3 Gillingham
Kamwa had a half-chance just after the hour. Sammy Braybrooke curled a free-kick from a central position into the box. Kamwa peeled away from a defender to head goalward but could not guide his attempt on target.
Gills made their first substitution in the 67th minute, as Aaron Rowe replaced Jonny Smith.
Nevitt came close when he met Hutton’s cross towards the back post. The forward rose the highest, heading down towards the post, but his effort went just wide of the goal.
Dack nearly completed his hat-trick after an excellent pass by Hutton, which allowed the midfielder to get in behind the Newport defence. Dack timed his run perfectly before hooking a first-time effort goalward. Tzanev reacted quickly to push the ball over the bar for a corner.
That proved to be his last contribution as he was soon replaced by Coleman on 74 minutes. Palmer-Houlden also entered the game for his Gillingham debut, replacing Andrews.
Robbie McKenzie came close to making it four. The visitors had possession around the hosts' penalty area before the ball was played to McKenzie. He was encouraged to shoot from 20 yards, curling his effort towards the far corner. His shot took a slight deflection as it whistled just past the post for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the 84th minute, the visitors needed just a touch to score. The ball was lofted into the box before falling to Jonny Williams, who did well to create space before fizzing a low-driven ball across the face of the six-yard box. Unfortunately, there was no Gillingham player in the vicinity.
Sam Vokes entered the game in the final minute of regulation time, replacing Jonny Williams.
Tzanev denied Vokes in the third minute of stoppage time. Palmer-Houlden got down the right side of the box before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot. Vokes struck it first time, but it was straight at the Newport goalkeeper, who pushed it behind for a corner.
FULL-TIME: Newport County 1-3 Gillingham
Newport County: Tzanev, Ogunneye, Davies, Baker, Jenkins, Braybrooke, Whitmore (Lloyd 69’), Antwi, Kamwa, Reindorf (Baker-Richardson 52’), Opoku (Spellman 76’)
Unused Substitutes: Wright, Evans, Glennon, Clarke
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Gale, A. Smith, Clark, J. Williams (Vokes 89’), McKenzie, J. Smith (Rowe 67’), Dack (Coleman 74’), Nevitt, Andrews (Palmer-Houlden 74’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Ogie, Cirino
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 4022 (601 Gillingham supporters)
