Connor Mahoney's first-half strike proves enough for Gills to take a deserved win at Swindon.
Connor Mahoney scored the only goal of the game as Gillingham came away from the County Ground with a well-deserved win over Swindon.
Mahoney gave Gillingham the lead after 22 minutes when his shot from just outside the box took a deflection before finding the back of the net.
Gills had several opportunities to score a second, with Macauley Bonne, Dom Jefferies and Cheye Alexander all coming close. Alexander also missed a penalty in the 74th minute, dragging his spot-kick wide of the post.
Keith Millen made two changes as Alexander and Shad Ogie returned to the starting XI. Max Ehmer and Max Clark dropped to the bench. Ike Orji was named among the substitutes after making his EFL debut against Notts County.
There was a moment of panic at the back for Gillingham when Dan Kemp got in behind their defence in the fifth minute. Kemp took it around the oncoming Jake Turner, but fortunately for the Gills, he took it too wide, meaning the opportunity to shoot was not available.
Mahoney had Gillingham’s first chance of the game after 14 minutes. He made a bursting run into the Swindon penalty area before letting a left-footed shot fly goalward. It had plenty of power, but Murphy Mahoney managed to push it over the bar for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Connor Mahoney almost found the back of the net. He curled his corner from the left towards the goal, almost catching Murphy Mahoney out. However, the Swindon goalkeeper backpedalled just in time to push it over the goal for another corner, which came to nothing.
In the 22nd minute, Connor Mahoney fired Gillingham in front. Cheye Alexander threw the ball to the winger, who had the time and space to cut inside on his left foot into a more central position. Mahoney shot from just outside the penalty area with his effort directed towards the far corner. However, his shot took a deflection, which wrong-footed the keeper, ending up in the back of the net.
Jake Young came close to equalising in the 26th minute after the hosts worked the ball down the right-hand side. It was cut back for Young to shoot on the volley, but his effort directed towards the near post was well-saved by Turner, who did brilliantly to get a solid palm behind the ball to keep it out before gathering the rebound.
Charlie Austin had a great opportunity to equalise when he ran onto Kemp’s corner unmarked. He glanced a header towards the far corner, but fortunately, his effort bounced just wide of the post.
Macauley Bonne had a golden chance to double the Gillingham advantage in the 34th minute. The striker latched onto Connor Mahoney’s through ball and found himself one-on-one with Murphy Mahoney. The oncoming Swindon goalkeeper did well to close down the angle before saving Bonne’s shot.
HALF-TIME: Swindon Town 0-1 Gillingham
Swindon had a penalty appeal waved away during the opening stages of the second half when Ethan Coleman collided with Young inside the penalty area. The incident was met by mass appeals from the Swindon players and supporters, but the referee stood firm in not awarding the penalty.
Alexander almost scored a brilliant goal moments later. Mahoney’s corner was headed as far as the right-back, who struck a first-time effort just as it bounced in front of him. Alexander’s effort had plenty of venom behind it, but Mahoney produced a brilliant diving save to palm it over the bar.
Dom Jefferies came close on 54 minutes. The Gills enjoyed a bright spell of possession as they moved the ball well. Jonny Williams switched it to Alexander, who made his way towards the penalty area. He spotted the run of Jefferies, who had got away from his marker and found the midfielder. Jefferies did well to get a shot away as his effort towards the near post was pushed behind.
Remeao Hutton thought that he had equalised for the hosts after he directed a left-footed shot towards the far corner. It had plenty of power, with the Swindon supporters thinking it was going to hit the back of the net, but Turner had other ideas as he did excellently to palm it wide of the goal.
George Lapslie replaced Jonny Williams in the 61st minute.
The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute. Jayden Clarke played it down the line for Jefferies to run onto before he drove towards the box. The midfielder then found Bonne, who laid it off for Lapslie to run onto. As Lapslie took his touch, he was hacked down by Harrison Minturn, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty kick.
Alexander took the penalty but dragged it wide of the post, with Murphy Mahoney left rooted to his spot in the centre of the goal.
Clarke was replaced shortly afterwards as Ehmer came onto the field of play as Gillingham went to a back five.
In the 81st minute, Shaun Williams and Tom Nichols came on for Connor Mahoney and Bonne.
Shaun Williams had a golden opportunity seconds after coming on. Jefferies did well to take it to the byline before cutting it back for Coleman, who spotted S. Williams on the edge of the area unmarked. Unfortunately, he could only send a right-footed effort wide of the far post.
Kemp had a huge chance in the 86th minute as he received the ball just inside the penalty area. He took it closer to the goal before shooting. However, Turner was on hand again to produce an excellent one-handed save from close range.
Young had a great opportunity in stoppage time. Hutton delivered a cross towards the back post where Young was waiting. He thumped his header across the goal, but it cleared the crossbar.
FULL-TIME: Swindon Town 0-1 Gillingham
Swindon Town: Mahoney, Hutton, Godwin-Malife, Minturn (Clayton 80’), Blake-Tracy, Hutton, McEachran, Khan, Shade (Obodo 87’), Kemp, Young, Austin (Hepburn-Murphy 69’)
Unused Substitutes: Ward, Genesini, Kinsella
Gillingham: Turner, Alexander, Masterson, Ogie, Malone, Coleman, Jefferies, Mahoney (S. Williams 81’), J. Williams (Lapslie 61’), Clarke (Ehmer 76’), Bonne (Nichols 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Orji, Clark
Referee: Peter Wright
Attendance: 8853 (610 Gillingham Supporters)