James Brophy scored two sensational goals as Gillingham put in a complete team performance to beat Rochdale 4-1 at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday.
The game’s first goal came in the 33rd minute when Brophy received the ball on the right corner of the box from Nick Freeman before cutting inside and letting fly. He curled his effort towards the far corner, with his shot bending around the diving Nils Ramming before nestling into the top corner.
Omar Beckles doubled Gillingham’s advantage seven minutes after half-time. Brophy’s dangerous cross ricocheted around the six-yard box before Beckles reacted the quickest to come sliding in and thumped it home.
Just short of the hour, Sillah scored his first senior goal. Eli King played a diagonal ball into the box, finding Andy Smith, who outjumped a defender to head towards the penalty spot. The Nottingham Forest loanee timed his run perfectly, getting across his marker before sending a header into the left corner of the goal.
Brophy scored his second and Gillingham’s fourth with an incredible solo goal. He received the ball on the left-hand side before going inside on his way towards the box. The 32-year-old did brilliantly to beat one player and, as he entered the box, got past another. Brophy then showed excellent close footwork to take it beyond one defender, then another, before slotting it past Ramming from close range.
Charlie Tasker pulled a goal back for the hosts in the closing moments, but it proved to be a consolation, as the Gills ran out 4-1 winners.
Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to the starting XI that drew at Chesterfield, as Will Goodwin returned to the team in place of Lamin Sillah, who dropped to the bench.
Zech Obiero made his first start after signing on a season-long loan from Leyton Orient. Robbie McKenzie, who took a whack to the leg on Tuesday night, was named among the substitutes, as was Eli King, who signed from Cardiff on deadline day.
In the 13th minute, Mani Dieseruvwe nearly gave the hosts the lead. Ed Francis curled a corner towards the back post, and Dieseruvwe made a run around the back to get on the end of the delivery. He directed his header towards the near post, but Ollie Wright had it covered, producing a brilliant save to push it away from the danger.
Gillingham were dealt an early blow as they had to make two changes in the 18th minute. Obiero and Goodwin were unable to continue and were replaced by King and Sillah respectively.
There was a moment of panic as Luke Hannant delivered a dangerous cross from the right-hand side. It was played into the six-yard box, just needing a player to force it home, but there was no one in the vicinity as it bounced towards the back post and off a Rochdale player before going out of play for a goal-kick.
In the 33rd minute, James Brophy scored his first Gillingham goal with a superb finish. Nick Freeman did well to hold possession on the right as he waited for support to arrive. Brophy provided an option inside and received the ball before quickly turning towards the goal. He was just outside the box and was able to shift the ball onto his left foot before directing a shot towards the far corner. Brophy’s strike was a beautiful one, as he bent the ball into the top corner, leaving Nils Ramming helpless in his attempts to try and keep it out.
Ronan Hale had a sight at goal moments later after Gillingham won possession. The forward opted to shoot from distance, with his low drive a central one. Ramming mishandled it initially, but recovered just in time, with Brophy unable to capitalise on the rebound.
Brophy tried his luck when he spotted Ramming off his line after regaining possession just inside the Rochdale half. However, his attempted lob was off target, leaving a backpedalling Ramming untroubled.
HALF-TIME: Rochdale 0-1 Gillingham
Gillingham made one change at the break, as Robbie McKenzie replaced Conor McManus, who was on a booking.
The visitors nearly made it two in the 52nd minute. Freeman did well to get on the end of a long ball forward before playing the ball inside for the oncoming Harry Waldock. He delivered a dangerous low centre, which Omar Beckles got on the end of. His attempt took a slight deflection, which took it wide for a corner.
Moments later, Beckles made it two. Brophy’s corner was cleared as far as King, who played the ball back out to him. Brophy then curled a dangerous ball towards the six-yard box, with the attempted clearance ricocheting around before Beckles came sliding in to thump the ball home.
Sillah scored his first Gillingham goal after 58 minutes. King played a diagonal ball into the penalty area, finding Andy Smith, who did well to outjump his marker and head the ball towards the penalty spot. Sillah timed his run to perfection, getting across a defender before heading the ball into the left corner of the net.
On the hour, the hosts were reduced to ten men when Francis was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Rochdale nearly pulled a goal back, but were denied by fantastic defending. Zain Silcott-Duberry carried the ball to the byline before fizzing the ball across the six-yard box. Dieseruvwe got on the end of it and looked destined to score before Logan Dobbs came sliding in to block heroically. The loose ball came to Hannant, who fired goalward, but he was denied by Wright, who did brilliantly to get across and save.
In the 64th minute, Jack Daley entered the game, making his Gills debut, as he replaced Dobbs.
Brophy made it four with a sensational solo goal. He picked the ball up on the left before carrying it inside and heading towards the penalty area. The 32-year-old took it beyond one player as he entered the box, then showed incredible close footwork to take the ball past one defender, then another, before slotting the ball underneath Ramming from close range.
Hale then came close twice in as many minutes. The first was one from distance when he shifted the ball inside from the left before letting fly from around 25 yards out. His strike curled towards the top left corner, but it whistled just wide of the target.
The second chance came when Waldock played a through ball for Hale to chase. The striker used his pace to carry the ball towards the goal before cutting inside and curling his shot towards the far corner, but it went wide of the goal.
In the 73rd minute, the visitors made their final change, as Sheldon Kendall replaced Waldock.
Hale tried to get in on the act when he received the ball on the left side just outside the box. He cut inside before shooting, but it was straight at Ramming, who gathered.
Charlie Tasker pulled a goal back for the hosts with three minutes remaining. He jumped the highest to meet a corner from the right, looping his header into the right corner of the net.
King had an opportunity in the final seconds. Hale had the ball inside the box, twisting and turning before he played it back to King on the edge of the box, who struck it first time. However, his attempt swerved wide of the target.
FULL-TIME: Rochdale 1-4 Gillingham
Rochdale: Ramming, Tasker, Wilson, Dieseruvwe (Henderson 88’), Silcott-Duberry (Gilmour 66’), Francis, Adeeko, Hannant (Smith 81’), Taylor, Moss, Brown (Middleton 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Waller, Adebayo-Rowling, Sherring
Gillingham: Wright, Smith, Beckles, Dobbs (Daley 64’), Freeman, Waldock (Kendall 73’), Obiero (King 18’), McManus (McKenzie 46’), Brophy, Hale, Goodwin (Sillah 18’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, McCleary
Referee: Jamie Robinson
Attendance: 4003 (388)
