Jack Nolan scored the pick of the goals as Gillingham beat Carlisle United 4-1 on the opening day of the 2024/25 season at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Tim Dieng opened the scoring after just two minutes, slotting the ball into an empty net following Aaron Rowe's blocked shot. Jacob Wakeling doubled Gillingham’s advantage three minutes into the second-half after he latched onto a misplaced pass by a Carlisle defender before dragging a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Jon Mellish pulled a goal back for Carlisle before Nolan restored Gillingham’s two-goal advantage. The wide man received the ball out wide on the right before taking the ball down the line, evading the sliding challenge of a Carlisle defender before making his way into the penalty area. Nolan found himself at a tight angle but thundered a shot into the roof of the net beyond Harry Lewis.
Jonny Williams capped off a perfect afternoon, scoring his first Gillingham league goal as his thumping low-driven strike from 25 yards nestled into the bottom corner.
Jack Nolan, Armani Little, Aaron Rowe and Jacob Wakeling were named in the starting XI, making their competitive debuts for Gillingham. Jake Turner returned to start in goal, having missed the final pre-season friendly as a precaution.
Max Ehmer and Conor Masterson started at the heart of the defence. Euan Williams, Jonny Williams and Joe Gbode were named among the substitutes.
Gillingham took the lead in the second minute through Tim Dieng. Masterson competed for a cross with Harry Lewis, doing enough to prevent the Carlisle goalkeeper from claiming it. The ball came out to Rowe, who saw his shot headed away. The ball then fell to Dieng in a central position to slot into an empty net.
The visitors almost found an immediate response when Ben Williams curled a free-kick from the right towards the back post. It was a dangerous cross, evading everybody, with a couple of Carlisle players inches away from making the crucial contact.
Ben Barclay had a half-chance on the edge of the penalty area in the 19th minute. A cross into the box was headed clear by Ehmer but only as far as Barclay, who curled a shot over the target.
The visitors had a huge chance to level the scores when a cross from the left was directed towards the back post. Davies arrived late, making contact with a diving header. Fortunately, the ball skimmed off his head and went wide of the goal.
In the 31st minute, Gills broke forward after an excellent sliding tackle by Robbie McKenzie. The ball went up to Wakeling, who had to wait for support to arrive in the form of Remeao Hutton. The right-back pushed forward before cutting inside onto his left foot and shooting. However, his effort proved a routine save for Lewis, who stood his ground, catching the effort.
Carlisle continued to have chances, with Jon Mellish being the next man to test the Gillingham goal. He made a bursting run through the midfield before shooting from 25 yards. Mellish’s effort had plenty of power but was straight at Turner, who got his body behind the shot.
Charlie Wyke should have done better in the 38th minute. Carlisle won possession and broke forward. A couple of one-twos were played before the ball was laid off to Wyke, who dragged his effort wide of the near post from 20 yards.
The visitors had a penalty shout after a sliding challenge from Ehmer. However, the referee believed he had timed his challenge well in winning the ball, as it went out of play for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the 42nd minute, Wyke was denied by the woodwork. A cross from Davies on the right was brought down by the striker, who did well to get the ball out of his feet before shooting. His effort beat Turner but cannoned off the crossbar before going clear, as Gillingham had a huge let-off.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Carlisle United
The hosts started the second period in a similar fashion to the first, as Wakeling doubled Gillingham’s advantage. The visitors had the ball just inside their half and misplaced a pass, which allowed Wakeling to latch onto the loose ball. The striker drove the ball towards the penalty area before shooting with his left foot from 20 yards. The Peterborough loanee dragged his effort into the far bottom corner out of Lewis' reach in the Carlisle goal.
Seconds after the goal, Gills were forced into a first change when Dieng could not continue. He was replaced by Jonny Williams.
Mellish pulled a goal back for Carlisle in the 65th minute. Ben Williams’ ball into the box dropped to Mellish, who drilled a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Gills responded well to the goal, creating a couple of half chances. The first fell to Ehmer. The ball came to him just to the right of the goal and he struck a half-volley first time. Unfortunately, he could not make the correct contact, sending it over the crossbar.
McKenzie had the second opportunity when he did well to chest the ball down just inside the penalty area before trying a speculative volley. He got enough power on the strike but could not find the target as it bounced wide.
Dan Butterworth, who replaced Barclay, came close to levelling for the visitors. Carlisle won a free-kick 25 yards from the goal in a central position. Butterworth had hearts in mouths for a moment as his curling effort fizzed just wide of the top left corner.
In the 77th minute, Nolan restored the two-goal advantage with a superb solo goal. He received the ball on the right wing before driving the ball forward. He somehow avoided the snapping challenge of a Carlisle defender before making his way into the penalty area. Nolan had a defender in front of him, blocking much of the goal and found himself at a tight angle. However, that did not prevent him from smashing a thunderbolt into the roof of the net, leaving Lewis helpless in keeping it out.
Gills were forced into their final substitute window when Masterson could not continue and he was replaced by Shad Ogie.
Nolan nearly had his second after he rounded Lewis. Unfortunately, a Carlisle defender recovered in time to block the effort from hitting the back of the net.
Jonny Williams capped off what proved to be a superb afternoon with his first Gillingham league goal in the 87th minute. The ball came out to the midfielder, who brought the ball under control before thumping a low-driven shot beyond Lewis and into the bottom corner, capping off a perfect afternoon at ME7.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 4-1 Carlisle United
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Ehmer, Masterson (Ogie 78’), Clark, McKenzie, Dieng (J. Williams 51’), Nolan, Little, Rowe (Clarke 70’), Wakeling (Gbode 70’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Hawkins, E. Williams
Carlisle United: Lewis, Davies, Thomas, Hayden, Wyke (Kelly 88’), Adu-Adjei (Armstrong 88’), Vela, Neal, B. Williams (Ellis 78’), Mellish, Barclay (Butterworth 61’)
Unused Substitutes: Breeze, Lavelle, Allan
Referee: Ben Atkinson
Attendance: 7037 (533 away fans)
