Ryan Graydon scored the winning goal five minutes into the second half as Fleetwood Town came from behind to beat Gillingham 2-1 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday night.
John Coleman made one change to the starting XI that drew 0-0 at Carlisle United, as Oli Hawkins came into the side, replacing Dominic Corness, who missed out. Aaron Rowe was named among the substitutes.
Elliott Nevitt tried his luck in the third minute. He received the ball from Hawkins before trying a snapshot from 25 yards. However, his attempt was struck wide.
Robbie McKenzie did well to fashion an opportunity in the 11th minute. Armani Little lofted the ball over the top of the Fleetwood defence into the penalty area for McKenzie. He brought the ball under his control before shifting it onto his right foot and fizzing a shot across the goal. Jay Lynch was rooted to his spot as it flew past the far post.
The hosts had a half chance after Brendan Wiredu slipped inside his own penalty area. It allowed Nevitt to capitalise, latching onto the loose ball before drilling a low-driven pass towards the six-yard box. Hawkins met it but could not make the correct contact, and it went wide of the target.
Graydon thought he had beaten the offside trap as he raced through to meet a through ball. He beat Glenn Morris to the ball, rounding him before slotting into an empty net. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
In the 39th minute, Nevitt gave Gillingham the lead. Max Clark had a throw down the left, giving it to Little, who gave it back to the left-back. Clark delivered a perfect cross into the penalty area for Nevitt, who had peeled away from his marker before guiding a header into the far corner of the net out of Lynch’s reach.
Elliot Bonds tried his luck from 25 yards as the visitors went in search of an immediate response. However, his low drive proved a comfortable save for Morris.
On the stroke of half-time, Mark Helm equalized for Fleetwood. The hosts could not clear the ball from their penalty area, and the ball came out to Helm, who struck a first-time effort from 20 yards. He drilled his strike into the bottom left corner, with the ball out of Morris' reach.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Fleetwood Town
Graydon fired Fleetwood in front five minutes into the second period. Bonds was played through down the right before curling a cross into the penalty area. Graydon met it, sliding it beyond Morris from around six yards.
Gillingham needed just a touch to equalize soon afterwards. Joe Gbode did well to outmuscle Wiredu down the right side of the penalty area before playing a low ball across the face of the six-yard box. Unfortunately, nobody was in the vicinity as it dribbled away from the goal.
Clark forced Lynch into action with a thumping strike. The ball came towards the left-back and he shot first time. The attempt had plenty of power as he drilled it goalward. However, it was at a good height for the Fleetwood goalkeeper to push clear of the danger.
Morris did brilliantly to gather Mackenzie Hunt's shot. The Fleetwood man was allowed to wander through the middle before directing a low drive for the bottom left corner. However, Morris did well getting a solid hand on the ball, keeping hold of it.
Gills were denied by the woodwork as they pressed for an equalizer. Lynch could not claim Hutton’s high looping cross from the right, allowing the ball to bounce. Nevitt met it first, heading goalward, but his effort hit the face of the crossbar before going clear.
Lynch did incredibly to deny the hosts twice in a matter of seconds. Clark sent a cross into the box that Hawkins headed goalward. The visiting goalkeeper parried it back into the six-yard area, with Nevitt waiting. He then thumped goalward, with Lynch somehow recovering in time to keep it out of the goal.
The hosts made a triple substitution with 15 minutes remaining. Jack Nolan, Jayden Clarke and Bradley Dack replaced Clark, Remeao Hutton and Gbode respectively.
Helm nearly had his second and Fleetwood’s third, as the visitors took advantage of a heavy touch in their own half. They had a three-on-two before Helm directed a shot towards the far bottom corner. However, his attempt fizzed just wide of the target.
Morris did well to keep out Hunt’s low drive. The shot went through a crowd of players, with Morris seeing it late before saving with his feet.
Gills made another change, as Jimmy-Jay Morgan replaced Hawkins.
Dack saw an effort deflected wide in the closing moments. The ball was cleared as far as the midfielder, who cut it onto his right foot before bending his shot towards the far corner. It took a touch off a Fleetwood defender, sending it wide of the post.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-2 Fleetwood Town
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton (Clarke 75’), Smith, Ehmer, Gale, Clark (Nolan 74’), McKenzie, Little, Nevitt, Hawkins (Morgan 86’), Gbode (Dack 75’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Khumbeni, Rowe
Fleetwood Town: Lynch, Cover(Bennett 60’), Wiredu, Bolton, Bonds, Graydon, Hunt, Helm, Neal, Rooney, Devonport (Marsh 69’)
Unused Substitutes: Hewitson, Mayor, Potter, Moore, Patterson
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 5370 (80 away fans)
