Scott Robertson’s first-half strike proved the difference as Gillingham fell to a 1-0 defeat against Notts County at Meadow Lane.
Gills had two late chances through Ronan Hale and Omar Beckles, but they were denied by James Belshaw, who made two brilliant saves.
Gareth Ainsworth made five changes to the starting XI that lost to Bromley, with Omar Beckles and Ronan Hale making their first starts for the Football Club. Travis Akomeah, Ethan Coleman and Seb Palmer-Houlden also came into the team.
Garath McCleary, Aaron Rowe and Bradley Dack were named among the substitutes, while Andy Smith and Conor Masterson missed out. Cameron Antwi was also named among the subs.
The hosts needed just a touch to take the lead after 13 minutes. A corner from the left was headed goalward by Matty Platt, but it was well-blocked by the Gillingham defence before Max Clark and Josh Andrews quickly threw themselves at the follow-up. The ball then went out to Maz Kouhyar, who took it towards the byline before fizzing a low ball across the face of the goal. Fortunately, no one was in the vicinity to make the crucial touch, as it went out of play for a goal-kick.
Palmer-Houlden had a good opportunity in the 23rd minute. Armani Little did fantastically to turn away from an oncoming challenge before carrying the ball forward. The Gills skipper did well to take it beyond multiple players and threaded a pass through for Palmer-Houlden to chase. The forward brought the ball into the penalty area before shooting on his left foot, but he was knocked slightly off balance, and his attempt went into the side netting.
Glenn Morris did well to turn an Ollie Norburn strike around the post a few minutes later. A cross from the left was headed clear by Clark, with the ball coming out to Norburn, who was 30 yards from the goal. He brought it under his control before shooting from 25 yards out. He made clean contact with his shot, which was going towards the bottom left corner, but Morris did well to get down and push it around the post.
From the resulting corner, Scott Robertson scored for Notts County. Nick Tsaroulla’s delivery was headed out as far as Norburn, who spotted the run of Robertson inside the penalty area. The midfielder had peeled away into space that was available, and received the ball before setting himself and sending a low drive in at the near post.
Tsaroulla nearly doubled the hosts' lead moments later. They broke forward at pace before Matthew Dennis pushed the ball out to the wing-back, who had space on the right-hand side. He shifted it onto his left foot before curling his shot towards the far corner. Fortunately, it went just wide of the post.
Hale came close when he struck the ball from distance. He received the ball around 20 yards from the goal before striking. His effort was directed towards the top left corner, with his shot going just wide.
In the 42nd minute, Kouhyar came inches away from making it two for Notts County. A cross from the right made its way out to the wing-back, who was on the left corner of the penalty area. He was allowed to shift it onto his right foot before bending a shot towards the far post. It had hearts in the mouths as it whistled just wide of the goal.
Moments later, Hale nearly brought the visitors back on level terms. McKenzie played the ball in behind the Notts defence, and Hale was the quickest off his heels to meet it. However, James Belshaw came off his line to close the forward down and blocked the attempt.
HALF-TIME: Notts County 1-0 Gillingham
Robertson nearly made it two just after the interval. Notts County were awarded a free-kick 20 yards from the goal, with the ball positioned just to the right of the centre. Robertson did well to get it up and over the wall, with it nestling into the near post side netting, deceiving many of the home fans.
In the 51st minute, Hale forced Belshaw into action from a free-kick after Andrews was brought down in a central position 25 yards from the goal. Hale did well to get it around the wall, but it was too close to Belshaw, who gathered.
In the 63rd minute, Gillingham made their first two changes, as McCleary and Sam Vokes replaced Palmer-Houlden and Andrews respectively.
Sam Gale prevented what seemed a certain goal six minutes later. The hosts broke forward, and Tom Iorpenda got in behind the Gillingham defence down the right-hand side. He delivered a low cross towards the back post with two players lying in wait. However, Gale recovered in time to put the ball behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Platt had a chance cleared off the line. The ball from the right found the defender, who headed it down into the ground. It bounced up as it was going towards the goal, with Little in the right place at the right time to head it off the line.
In the 71st minute, the visitors made another double substitution. Dack and Remeao Hutton entered the game, replacing Robbie McKenzie and Gale.
Vokes had a great chance to equalise after a fine build-up. McCleary carried the ball inside before a pass eventually found Hale, who then slipped the ball in for Dack on the right side of the penalty area. He squared it for Vokes inside the six-yard box, who sent it goalward, with his attempt from close range well-saved by Belshaw. However, the linesman’s flag was already raised for an offside during the build-up.
Belshaw produced two massive saves in a matter of moments to keep the hosts in front deep into the four minutes of added time. The first came when Dack did well to guide the ball into Hale’s path. The forward sent a left-footed attempt goalward, but the goalkeeper did brilliantly to save with his legs.
The second came from a Hutton cross, which found the head of Beckles, who headed it down into the ground. It bounced just in front of Belshaw, who reacted quickly to save and then smothered Dack’s follow-up, but the Gillingham man was in an offside position.
FULL-TIME: Notts County 1-0 Gillingham
Notts County: Belshaw, Bedeau, Platt, Norburn, Iorpenda, Kouhyar, Dennis (Bennettes 80’), Robertson, Tsaroulla, Hall (Ndlovu 64’), Macari (Ness 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Griffiths, Grant, Enoru, Tangen
Gillingham: Morris, Gale (Hutton 71’), Akomeah, Beckles, Clark, Coleman, Little, McKenzie (Dack 71’), Palmer-Houlden (McCleary 63’), Andrews (Vokes 63’), Hale
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Rowe, Antwi
Referee: Abigail Byrne
Attendance: 8731 (404 Gillingham supporters)
