Gillingham lost their first home league game of 2024 as Kieran Green scored the only goal of the game in Grimsby Town’s 1-0 victory at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Mark Bonner made two changes to the starting XI that beat Barrow, with Ethan Coleman and Jonny Williams coming into the side. George Lapslie was named among the substitutes, while Remeao Hutton missed out due to injury.
Tim Dieng returned to the matchday squad after his injury layoff.
Luca Barrington’s cross from the left caused a moment of panic for the Gills in the 11th minute. The deep ball into the penalty area was close to the Gillingham goal, causing Glenn Morris to backpedal while attempting to swipe the ball away. Fortunately, the first player to meet it at the back post was Max Clark, who put it out of play for a corner, which came to nothing.
Max Ehmer had the hosts first opportunity on 16 minutes. Jack Nolan's corner was played deep into the penalty area and was volleyed back towards the six-yard box by Ethan Coleman. Ehmer was the man to meet the ball, heading it goalward. However, his effort was straight at Jackson Smith in the Grimsby goal.
In the 21st minute, Green gave Grimsby the lead. Denver Hume made a run forward through the middle of the park, bypassing the Gillingham midfield before spotting the free run of Green on the right, with acres of room to move into. Hume played the ball through before Green slotted into the far bottom corner beyond the oncoming Morris.
The game went into a quiet period following the goal, with the visitors happy to allow Gillingham to dominate the possession while holding their defensive shape to stifle any attack from the hosts. However, Jack Nolan caused them an issue shortly before half-time.
Nolan received the ball on the right wing with space to run into. The wide man made his way into the penalty area before shifting the ball onto his right foot and fizzing a ball towards the back post. A Grimsby defender got a touch on the ball as it made its way towards the far corner, taking it out of the reach of the two Gillingham players attempting to get on the end of it.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Grimsby Town
Elliott Nevitt had a half-chance after 52 minutes. He picked up a loose ball before turning a defender and carrying it into the penalty area. Nevitt was given the space to set himself before shooting. However, a Grimsby defender came in with a sliding effort to block the shot.
In the 58th minute, the striker had a massive chance to equalise. Jayden Clarke found himself one-on-one with the full-back, using his pace to take it beyond him before fizzing the ball across the face of the goal. Nevitt came storming in at the back post to send it goalward. Unfortunately, he could not hit the target, sending it over the bar.
Gills made their first change in the 62nd minute when Lapslie replaced Jonny Williams.
There were two more changes for the hosts on 74 minutes. Joe Gbode and Dieng entered the game in the place of Coleman and Clarke respectively.
Gills made their final change, which saw Oli Hawkins replace Shad Ogie. That saw a tactical change for Gillingham as they went to a back three. Hawkins joined the attack, leading the line with Nevitt as they looked to score an equaliser.
Dieng had a good opportunity in the 82nd minute. Nolan’s corner from the right found the head of a Gillingham player in the six-yard box. However, the ball then came off a Grimsby defender before dropping into the path of Dieng. Unfortunately, he could not guide his shot on target, sending it wide of the post.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Grimsby Town
Gillingham: Morris, McKenzie, Ehmer, Ogie (Hawkins 79’), Clark, Little, Coleman (Gbode 73’), Nolan, J. Williams (Lapslie 62’), Clarke (Dieng 74’), Nevitt
Unused Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Wakeling, Wyllie
Grimsby Town: Smith, Cass, Rodgers, McJannet, Hume, McEachran, Khouri, Green (Tharme 87’), Svanthorsson (Pyke 65’), Rose (Wilson 73’), Barrington (Gardner 65’)
Unused Substitutes: Auton, Ainley, Warren
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5652 (217 away fans)
