Second-half goals from Ryan Tafazolli and Aaron Drinan proved the difference as Swindon Town beat Gillingham 2-0 at the County Ground on New Year’s Day.
Gareth Ainsworth made five changes to the starting XI ahead of Gillingham’s first game of 2026. Elliott Nevitt and Josh Andrews came into the side, leading the line, while Jonny Williams, Ethan Coleman and Max Clark also returned to the line-up.
Conor Masterson, Robbie McKenzie, Bradley Dack, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Sam Vokes were all named as substitutes. Jonny Smith returned to the matchday squad.
Coleman had the first opportunity of the game in the fourth minute. Aaron Rowe had the ball down the left and got beyond a defender before floating a cross into the box. He found an unmarked Coleman, who headed over the crossbar.
In the 14th minute, Filozofe Mabete played a dangerous ball into the six-yard box. He did well to get towards the byline before cutting it back. Fortunately, there was nobody to get on the end of it, as Sam Gale got a touch before Gillingham cleared their lines.
Aaron Drinan had a half-chance when he got in behind the Gills defence after a long ball over the top. The Swindon forward struck it first time on the half-volley, sending it high and wide of the near post.
Andrews forced Connor Ripley into action after 26 minutes. Gills won a free-kick 30 yards from the goal, which Armani Little curled into the penalty area. Andrews made first contact, heading it down, but it was straight at Ripley, who gathered with ease.
In the 32nd minute, Nevitt had a good opportunity. Little curled a corner into the box from the left, finding the forward on the edge of the six-yard box. Ripley came to try and meet the cross, but was too late, as Nevitt headed goalward. Unfortunately, he could not hit the target with his attempt.
Rowe did brilliantly to get a shot away minutes later. Jonny Williams flicked the ball on into Rowe’s path, and he had got in behind the Swindon defence. He did well to hold his ground after a tug on his shirt before creating space and shooting from a tight angle towards the near post, which Ripley blocked, sending it behind for a corner that came to nothing.
HALF-TIME: Swindon Town 0-0 Gillingham
Gavin Kilkenny curled a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after Gillingham cleared a corner as far as him. The Swindon man had the time to control and set himself before aiming for the top right corner, with it floating over Jake Turner’s goal.
In the 59th minute, Ryan Tafazolli headed Swindon in front. Finley Munroe curled a free-kick from the left touchline into the penalty area, finding Tafazolli, who rose the highest to nod the ball into the far bottom corner of the net.
Will Wright came close to adding a second when the hosts were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from the goal to the left of the centre. He got the ball up and over the wall, and it bounced just wide of the bottom corner.
Tafazolli produced a fantastic block to deny Nevitt in the 65th minute. Little threaded a pass through to the forward, who seemed to have a clear path to the goal. He sent his low drive goalward, but Tafazolli came sliding in to block the shot.
The visitors continued to apply pressure, as Coleman was denied by Ripley. Remeao Hutton’s long throw into the penalty area was allowed to bounce, allowing Coleman to peel away from the defender to meet the ball unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box. He headed towards the goal, but Ripley stood his ground to push it over.
From the resulting corner, Jonny Williams was denied. The initial cross was cleared back out to Clark, who cut it back to Nevitt. The forward carried it towards the byline before dinking a cross towards the edge of the six-yard box. Williams ran onto it, with his header palmed away by the diving Ripley.
That proved to be the former Wales international’s final contribution, as Gillingham made a triple substitution after 68 minutes. McKenzie, Dack and Jonny Smith replaced Coleman, Rowe and Williams.
The hosts continued to defend valiantly, as a crucial touch denied Andrews what seemed a golden opportunity. A ball into the penalty area dropped to McKenzie, who flicked it into Andrews’ path. As the striker looked ready to pull the trigger, a Swindon defender made a last-ditch effort to poke the ball away and out for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the 79th minute, Gills made another change, as Palmer-Houlden replaced Nevitt.
The visitors made their final change five minutes later, as Vokes replaced Andrews.
Jonny Smith hit the foot of the post moments later. He received the ball near the right touchline before carrying it inside onto his left foot. The Wigan loanee had the time and space to set himself before sending a low drive towards the bottom corner, which went through a crowd of bodies before hitting the post, and Swindon were first to meet the rebound.
In the first minute of added time, Drinan doubled the Swindon advantage. The ball was played down the right for Ollie Palmer to run onto, and he floated a cross into the penalty area, finding Drinan, who angled a header into the far bottom corner of the net.
FULL-TIME: Swindon Town 2-0 Gillingham
Swindon Town: Ripley, Mabete (Tabor 48’), Wright, Nichols, Tafazolli, Kilkenny, Drinan, Munroe, Palmer, McGregor, Oldaker (Ball 82’)
Unused Substitutes: Ward, Ehibhatiomhan, Kirkman, Gonzalez
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, A. Smith, Gale, Clark, Coleman (McKenzie 68’), Little, Rowe (Dack 68’), J. Williams (J. Smith 69’), Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden 79’), Andrews (Vokes 84’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Masterson
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance: 9986 (896 Gillingham supporters)
