Bobby Kamwa scored a first half hat-trick as Gillingham were beaten 3-1 by Newport County at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night.
John Coleman made one change to the starting XI that beat Morecambe at the weekend. Jimmy-Jay Morgan came into the line-up, replacing Oli Hawkins, who dropped to the bench.
David Ajiboye had the first half-chance of the game. Bobby Kamwa got in behind down the left-hand side, which allowed him to aim a low ball towards the edge of the penalty area. Ajiboye met it unmarked, slicing his effort well wide of the target.
In the ninth minute, Kamwa opened the scoring for the hosts. Ajiboye went on a mazy run, dribbling beyond multiple Gillingham players before being tripped on the edge of the penalty area. The ball was positioned just to the left of the centre, and Kamwa curled his effort over the wall, striking the underside of the crossbar before hitting the back of the net.
Gills had a succession of corners around the 20-minute mark as they applied some pressure in search of an equalizer. The closest they came to scoring was when Armani Little’s corner was met by the head of Robbie McKenzie at the near post. His header goalward was blocked by a defender before going out for another corner, which was cleared.
Moments later, Morgan came close. Remeao Hutton’s clearance turned into a pass forward, as the Chelsea loanee managed to latch onto the ball inside the penalty area before shooting. However, his attempt was saved by Nick Townsend, who got down to his right to gather the shot.
Kamwa doubled Newport’s lead on 27 minutes. Courtney Baker-Richardson played a pass into Ajiboye, who played it in behind the Gillingham defence for Kamwa to latch onto. Glenn Morris came off his line to close the angle, but Kamwa pushed it beyond the oncoming goalkeeper, and it ended up in the back of the net despite Max Clark's best efforts to keep it out.
Three minutes later, Kamwa completed his hat-trick. Ajiboye continued to cause the visitors problems as he carried it down the right before cutting the ball back to Cameron Antwi. He tried his luck, sending a low effort goalward. Kamwa made contact with the shot, taking it the other way and beyond the outstretched Morris and into the bottom corner.
McKenzie did well in conjuring an opportunity after making a driving run through the middle of the park. Unfortunately, he could not hit the target, sending his shot over the crossbar.
Morgan forced Townsend into action after Gbode won possession just inside the Gillingham half. He ran forward before playing a through ball for the Chelsea loanee to latch onto. Morgan struck a low drive towards the near post, which Townsend was equal to, gathering the attempt.
HALF-TIME: Newport County 3-0 Gillingham
Kamwa continued to cause Gillingham problems as he turned past Andy Smith inside the Newport half before advancing into the Gillingham penalty area. Fortunately, his side-footed effort was a comfortable save for Morris.
In the 62nd minute, Kamwa had another free-kick, which was central and further out than the one he had scored from. He got his attempt up and over the wall but could not hit the target, as it curled wide of the post.
Morgan pulled a goal back on 69 minutes. The hosts could not clear a Gills corner, which came out to Max Ehmer, who played it back to Clark. He spotted Little on the left side of the penalty area in space, playing the ball to him. Little fired goalward, with his attempt too hot for Townsend to keep hold of, as he parried it back into the middle, where Morgan outjumped a defender to guide a header into the far corner of the goal.
The ball somehow failed to cross the line when Elliott Nevitt struck goalward from a tight angle shortly after. He received the ball to the right of the six-yard box before shooting first time, sending a low-driven effort goalward. His shot went through the legs of Townsend, flashed across the goal line before running to safety.
FULL-TIME: Newport County 3-1 Gillingham
Newport County: Townsend, Thomas, Baker, Clarke, Warner (C. Evans 76’), Glennon, McLoughlin, Antwi, Ajiboye (K. Evans 83’), Baker-Richardson, Kamwa
Unused Substitutes: Webb, Whitmore, Martin, Spellman, Bony
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, Ehmer, Gale, Clark, McKenzie, Little, Nevitt, Morgan, Gbode
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Masterson, Khumbeni, Dack, Nolan, Clarke, Hawkins
Referee: Aaron Bannister
Attendance: 3589 (193 Gillingham supporters)
