Robbie McKenzie’s header proved to be the winning goal as ten-man Gillingham put in a heroic effort to shut out Chesterfield in a 1-0 win at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
McKenzie gave Gillingham the lead after eight minutes when he headed Jack Nolan’s free-kick beyond Ryan Boot and into the far corner.
Max Ehmer received his marching orders on the hour when he was shown a second yellow card after a foul on the left touchline. The dismissal came seconds after George Lapslie hit the post.
The visitors huffed and puffed in their search for an equaliser, with Tom Naylor hitting the crossbar in stoppage time. However, Chesterfield ended the game with ten men themselves when Chey Dunkley received two yellow cards in as many minutes.
Bradley Dack was named in the matchday squad for the first time since returning to the Football Club. Mark Bonner made four changes to the starting XI that drew at Fleetwood, as Glenn Morris started in goal due to Jake Turner picking up an injury during the week.
Aaron Rowe and George Lapslie came into the team, with Tim Dieng missing out and Jayden Clarke dropping to the bench. Marcus Wyllie led the line, making his first league start.
Darren Oldaker was inches away from giving Chesterfield an early lead. The visitors won a free-kick 25 yards from goal in a central position that Oldaker struck goalward. It was a fantastic effort which beat Morris but cannoned off the underside of the crossbar before bouncing away from the line.
Will Grigg was the first to the rebound, heading goalward, but Wyllie was on hand to get the ball off the line before Gills cleared the danger.
Dilan Markanday should have done better in the sixth minute. Chesterfield broke forward down the right side before playing the ball into the penalty area. Armando Dobra picked up the loose ball, laying it off for Markanday, who blasted it over the crossbar from around 15 yards.
Robbie McKenzie headed Gillingham in front two minutes later. The hosts won a free-kick to the left of the penalty area, which Jack Nolan curled towards the back post. McKenzie made his run around the back undetected, allowing him to thump his header across the goal and into the far corner beyond Ryan Boot.
It was nearly two when McKenzie won possession deep in Chesterfield’s half. He brought the ball forward before laying it off for Wyllie to make a free run into the box. The striker got a shot away, which had plenty of power but was parried away as far as Nolan, who could not direct his effort goalward.
In the 20th minute, Gillingham were forced into a first change when Aaron Rowe could not continue with what appeared to be a muscle strain. He was replaced by Jayden Clarke.
Dobra came inches away from bringing Chesterfield level. A low cross from the right bounced around the penalty area before coming out to the unmarked forward, who struck a low-driven effort towards the bottom right corner. It beat Morris but hit the face of the post before Gillingham dealt with the rebound.
A Nolan cross from the right nearly allowed the Gills to double their advantage. The winger curled a left-footed ball into the penalty area, which just evaded an unmarked Max Ehmer before going inches wide of the far post.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Chesterfield
In the 52nd minute, Markanday thought he had equalised for Chesterfield. Vontae Daley-Campbell played a low ball, switching it to Markanday on the right. He slotted the ball into the back of the net, but he had strayed offside, ruling the goal out.
A minute of chaos on the hour ended disastrously for Gills. Down one end, Lapslie got on the end of Clark’s high floating ball into the box, heading against the post. However, the visitors won a free-kick, which they took quickly. James Berry got away down the left before being fouled by Ehmer, who was sent off for a second yellow card, having been booked earlier in the half.
Following Ehmer's sending off, McKenzie slotted in at centre-back alongside Ogie, with Lapslie dropping into the central midfield position.
McKenzie made a crucial block to deny Dobra. Markanday took the ball towards the byline before cutting it back with Morris off his line. The ball came to Dobra, who had a goal with no goalkeeper in it. However, McKenzie threw himself in front of his shot before Gills eventually dealt with the danger.
In the 82nd minute, Gills made two more changes. Josh Andrews made his first appearance of the season, replacing Wyllie. Jonny Williams entered the game for Lapslie.
James Metcalfe, who replaced Markanday in the 81st minute, managed to get a shot away from the edge of the box with less than five minutes remaining. However, it lacked the power to test Morris, as it went straight into the goalkeeper’s gloves.
There was nearly late heartbreak for Gillingham as the game entered additional time. A through ball for Dobra was initially cut out, but Gills could not clear their lines. With Morris coming off his line to try and close down the attempted pass, the loose ball came to Tom Naylor, who had an open goal to aim at. His effort floated goalward, with everyone at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium holding their breath.
Fortunately, the ball hit the crossbar before bouncing over to Berry for the rebound, which he smashed high and wide of the target.
Deep into stoppage time, Chey Dunkley was sent off for a second yellow card. Having been booked seconds beforehand, Dunkley collided with Andrews, studs first, giving the referee no choice but to give him his marching orders.
Having stood up to more than 30 minutes of pressure on their penalty area, Mark Bonner's side hung on for a huge early season three points.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Chesterfield
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark, McKenzie, Little, Rowe (Clarke 20’), Lapslie (J. Williams 83’), Nolan, Wyllie (Andrews 83’)
Unused Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Giles, Dack, Wakeling
Chesterfield: Boot, Daley-Campbell (Jacobs 76’), Naylor, Dunkley, Gordon, Banks (T. Williams 90’), Oldaker, Markanday (Metcalfe 81’), Dobra, Berry, Grigg (Drummond 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Thompson, Grimes, Jones
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Attendance: 6954 (330 away fans)
