Kian Spence scored a brace, with Tyler Smith adding another, as Gillingham fell to a 3-0 defeat to Barrow at the SO Legal Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
There were three changes to the starting XI that lost to Notts County in the previous league fixture. Andy Smith made his debut after signing on loan from Hull City. Bradley Dack and Joe Gbode came into the side, while Remeao Hutton, Nelson Khumbeni and Jimmy-Jay Morgan were all named among the substitutes.
Dominic Corness, who signed on loan from Liverpool on deadline day, was named on the bench.
Spence came close on 13 minutes. He picked up the ball on the right-hand side before running inside onto his left foot and shooting on the edge of the penalty area. His low-driven effort was directed towards the bottom corner of Glenn Morris’ near post, going just wide of the target.
Dean Campbell went down inside the box in the 17th minute. Robbie McKenzie had tried to get the ball, and Campbell went beyond him before going down. The referee was quick to blow his whistle and awarded Gillingham a free-kick, booking Campbell for simulation in the process.
The visitors had a penalty appeal of their own moments later. Gbode timed his run perfectly to get in behind the Barrow defence, meeting an Armani Little pass over the top. The academy graduate was attempting to round Paul Farman in the Barrow goal before he felt contact from behind and went down. However, the referee was unmoved, allowing play to continue.
Barrow came close again when a free-kick towards the Gillingham box was flicked on into the path of an unmarked Spence, who half-volleyed on the right side of the penalty area. His attempt was a powerful strike, hitting into the side netting, with Morris having it covered.
In the 34th minute, Gills were awarded a free-kick after Shad Ogie was fouled 25 yards from goal to the left of centre. Dack took the set piece, curling it up and over the wall towards the near post. However, he could not direct it on target.
Asher Agbinone had the visitors' first shot on target shortly before half-time. Gillingham went short with a corner, with the Crystal Palace loanee receiving the ball before cutting onto his right foot and taking it to the left corner of the box. Agbinone curled his effort towards the far corner, with it at a comfortable height for Farman to gather it.
HALF-TIME: Barrow 0-0 Gillingham
In the 52nd minute, Gillingham were forced into their first change. Agbinone went down with an apparent knock and could not continue, being replaced by Jack Nolan.
Ben Jackson had a great chance after Barrow won possession near the visiting penalty area. The hosts had players over to the left, shifting the ball over until it came to Jackson to shoot. Fortunately, he could not strike the effort correctly, firing it wide of the far post.
Morris made a fantastic save to keep Aaron Pressley’s header out. Elliot Newby crossed from the right, finding Pressley in the box. He looped his header goalward, forcing Morris to backpedal back onto his line before doing brilliantly to get a hand onto the ball to push it just over the crossbar for a corner, which was eventually dealt with.
Spence opened the scoring on the hour. A long ball forward by Farman eventually fell to Spence, who struck a half-volley goalward. His attempt was a looping one, Morris was at full stretch but couldn't keep it out.
Barrow began to grow in confidence as MJ Williams tried his luck from 25 yards. His attempt was a central one, but dipping towards the goal, with Morris getting a hand onto it to push it over the crossbar.
The visitors made another substitution on 66 minutes, as Hutton replaced Ogie. That saw a change in formation, with the Gills going to a back five. Hutton was positioned at right wing-back, with Nolan on the left. Smith slotted into the right side of three central defenders, with Elliott Nevitt and Gbode up front as a pair.
In the 76th minute, Gills made a trio of substitutions. Corness, Morgan and Khumbeni replaced Dack, Little and Nevitt.
Spence doubled the Barrow lead with six minutes remaining. Jackson got to the byline, keeping the ball in play before delivering a low ball across the six-yard box for Spence to latch onto at the back post to smash into an empty net.
Tyler Smith made it three in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Gotts sent a low centre for Smith, who made his way across the six-yard box to thump home from close range.
FULL-TIME: Barrow 3-0 Gillingham
Barrow: Farman, Foley, Canavan, Jackson, Spence (Worrall 87’), Williams, Campbell, Newby, Gotts, Whitfield (Smith 89’), Pressley (Acquah 77’)
Unused Substitutes: Stanway, Cameron, Mahoney
Gillingham: Morris, Smith, Ehmer, Gale, Ogie (Hutton 66’), McKenzie, Little (Morgan 76’), Dack (Corness 76’), Agbinone (Nolan 52’), Nevitt (Khumbeni 76’), Gbode
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Clark
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 3130 (227 Gillingham supporters)
