Jack Shepherd’s volley during first-half stoppage time proved to be the winning goal as Bradford City came from behind to beat Gillingham 2-1 at Valley Parade.
Mark Bonner made five changes to the side that lost at home to Accrington Stanley last weekend. Jake Turner returned in goal, with Glenn Morris missing out due to injury. Conor Masterson partnered Max Ehmer in the heart of the defence while Shad Ogie dropped to the bench.
Tim Dieng and Joe Gbode came into the starting XI, as did Oli Hawkins, who led the line. Jack Nolan dropped to the bench, but Armani Little and Elliott Nevitt missed out due to injury.
Hawkins had the first half-chance of the game. Gillingham won a throw down the right, which Jayden Clarke gave straight back to Remeao Hutton. The right-back curled a cross into the box in the direction of Hawkins, who angled a header goalward. Unfortunately, it lacked the power to test Sam Walker in the Bradford goal.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead after seven minutes. A free-kick from the left was headed towards the back post by a Gillingham player after Turner had attempted to punch the ball clear. It fell to Shepherd, who cushioned a header towards an empty net, thinking he had given the hosts the lead. However, Calum Kavanagh came in at the final moment to prod home from a couple of yards out.
Fortunately for the visitors he was in an offside position when he put the ball into the goal.
George Lapslie tested Walker after good work from Gbode. He did well to hold the ball up before playing it to Lapslie, who created space for a shot. He curled his effort around a defender from 20 yards, but it was palmed away by the Bradford goalkeeper.
In the 11th minute, Clarke gave Gillingham the lead. The visitors broke forward down the right through Lapslie. He spotted the underlapping run of Dieng, who carried it into the penalty area before cutting it back for the oncoming Clarke. He did well to bring it under control before prodding the ball with the outside of his foot towards the goal. It hit the inside of the post before crossing the line, capping off what was a well-worked move.
The visitors were inches away from making it two on 21 minutes. Coleman intercepted a pass forward before playing it out to Clarke on the right. Lapslie made a bursting run on the underlap, which Clarke spotted. Lapslie then took it towards the box before playing it across in the direction of Hawkins. Brad Halliday cut it out but almost slid the ball into the back of his own net as it slowly trickled goalward before hitting the post.
Gillingham continued their strong start and needed just a touch to double their advantage. Coleman played it forward for Clarke to latch onto in space. He took it towards the box before waiting for support to arrive in Hutton. He played a smart backheel back for the defender, who crossed to the back post. Hawkins headed it back to the penalty spot with Coleman and Clarke waiting.
Unfortunately, neither player made contact with the ball, as they completely missed their respective half-volleys.
It took a big block from Ehmer to deny Tyreik Wright. He had space inside the box, allowing him the chance to drill a shot towards the goal. However, Ehmer came flying in with a sliding block to take the ball away from danger.
Neill Byrne brought Bradford level in the 38th minute. Jamie Walker curled a corner from the left into the box, which found Byrne at the back post, and the ball struck his knee before finding the net.
The hosts went in front with the last kick of the first-half. Gills could not fully clear a free-kick into the penalty area, and the ball came out to Shepherd on the edge of the penalty area. He struck a first-time volley that flew by Turner and into the top corner.
HALF-TIME: Bradford City 2-1 Gillingham
Clarke nearly had a great opportunity to bring Gillingham level. After some nice build-up play, Hawkins laid it off for Lapslie, who then waited for Clarke before playing the ball to the winger. However, just as Clarke was readying to shoot, a Bradford defender came in to make the crucial last-second intervention.
Moments later, Clarke Oduor made a bursting run through the Gillingham midfield. He took the ball all the way into the penalty area before shooting. Fortunately, he dragged his low-driven effort well wide of the post.
Turner did brilliantly to deny Andy Cook after 52 minutes. The forward was played through down the right before Masterson came across to apply pressure. Cook brought the ball onto his left foot before shooting towards the near post. Turner, who had started to go across the goal, did well to recover, making the save.
It took a last-ditch block by Masterson to deny Kavanagh from increasing the lead. A low ball into the box found the Bradford man in space before he swung the ball goalward. Masterson came across at the final moment to provide the crucial block before Gills cleared their lines.
Gills made two substitutions in the 72nd minute, with Marcus Wyllie and Jacob Wakeling replacing Hawkins and Gbode.
Turner had to be alert to deny Cheick Diabate soon after. The visitors broke forward with acres of space down the right to move into. Diabate carried it into the penalty area before cutting onto his left foot and shooting. His attempt went through a crowd of players before Turner saved with his feet.
In the 77th minute, Kavanagh came close when the hosts broke forward on the counter. He had the time and space to set himself before shooting from outside the box. Kavanagh’s effort had plenty of pace and movement as it flew beyond the post.
There were two more Gillingham changes when Jonny Williams and Nolan replaced Coleman and Clarke.
Gills pushed for a late equaliser but could not muster the opportunity to do so as Bradford hung on for all three points.
FULL-TIME: Bradford City 2-1 Gillingham
Bradford City: S. Walker, Byrne, Diabate, Shepherd, Halliday, Oduor (Evans 80’), Smallwood, J. Walker (Pointon 67’), Wright (Richards 33’), Kavanagh (Smith 81’), Cook (Oliver 80’)
Unused Substitutes: Doyle, Huntington
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Ehmer, Masterson, Clark, Coleman (J. Williams 77’), Dieng (E. Williams 81’), Clarke (Nolan 77’), Lapslie, Gbode (Wakeling 72’), Hawkins (Wyllie 72’)
Unused Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Ogie
Attendance: 16,471 (396 Gillingham supporters)
Referee: Ross Joyce
