Elliott Nevitt scored his first Gillingham league goal as an incredible effort from Mark Bonner’s side saw them beat Notts County 1-0 at Meadow Lane.
The goal came in the 38th minute when Remeao Hutton played a perfectly weighted pass through the Notts County defence. Nevitt got ahead of the defenders, latching onto the loose ball with just the goalkeeper to beat. He showed brilliant composure to round Alex Bass before slotting into an empty net.
Gills had to stand strong throughout the second half, with their hosts applying constant pressure. However, they stood strong, showing superb defensive resilience to keep Notts County at bay, holding on for a massive three points.
Mark Bonner made two changes to the side that beat Tranmere Rovers 3-0 last weekend. Robbie McKenzie returned to the starting XI after suffering an injury, replacing the suspended Ethan Coleman.
Jayden Clarke was named in the line-up, having come off the bench to score twice against Tranmere.
Joe Gbode remained in the starting XI after his impressive display in the previous fixture. Jonny Williams was named among the substitutes after the concussion he suffered at Doncaster.
Clarke had the first chance in the tenth minute. He went on an excellent run down the left wing, taking on a couple of Notts County defenders before evading two Jodi Jones challenges. Clarke cut inside onto his right foot as he made his way into the penalty area before shooting. His effort had plenty of power but was palmed clear by keeper Alex Bass.
Gills were first to the rebound as Gbode brought the ball under control before getting a shot away. However, his effort was a tame one, which was straight at Bass.
In the 13th minute, Nick Tsaroulla tried his luck. He got inside the penalty area before cutting onto his right foot and shooting. His low-driven effort was directed towards Glenn Morris’ near post, which the Gillingham goalkeeper had covered, with the effort striking the side netting.
Tsaroulla had an excellent opportunity moments later. Dan Crowley played a defence-splitting pass for Lewis Macari to latch onto down the right before he crossed into the box. The ball dropped to Tsaroulla, who was running onto the effort unchallenged.
Fortunately, he smashed his effort over the crossbar from 15 yards out.
The hosts came inches away from taking the lead twice in a matter of seconds. The first came when Jones tried his luck from over 20 yards out. His low-driven effort fizzed towards the left bottom corner and seemed destined for the back of the net. However, Morris did an incredible job getting across to get a hand on the ball.
However, the danger was not averted, as the rebound sat perfectly for Tsaroulla to shoot first time. His effort beat Morris but hit nearly the same spot on the post that Jones’ effort hit, as Gillingham had a huge let-off.
Moments later, Shad Ogie forced Bass into action. The defender cut out an attempted pass forward by the hosts before taking the ball goalward. He was afforded the time and space to set himself before unleashing a powerful strike goalward.
It was heading towards the top corner before Bass got across to push it wide of the post for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the 28th minute, George Abbott missed a guilt-edged opportunity. A cross from the left was headed down by David McGoldrick into Abbott’s path. He had acres of room and space to set himself but shot first time. Fortunately, he sent his effort the wrong side of the post as it nestled into the side netting.
In the 38th minute, Nevitt scored his first Gillingham league goal. Remeao Hutton played a perfectly weighted ball through the Notts County defence, which allowed Nevitt to latch onto the pass with just the goalkeeper to beat. He brought it forward, showing great composure to round Bass before slotting into an empty net.
HALF-TIME: Notts County 0-1 Gillingham
The opening 20 minutes to the second period saw Notts County dominate possession for large spells, but they failed to put any pressure on the Gillingham goal. The Gills frustrated their hosts, holding their shape and looking to break forward on the counter when possible.
Armani Little had a good opportunity on the hour. Clarke made his way down the left, heading towards the penalty area before he spotted an unmarked Little. The ball was played to the midfielder on the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately, he could not hit the target, with his effort floating it over the crossbar.
In the 66th minute, Gills made their first two changes, as Jacob Wakeling and Jack Nolan replaced Clarke and Gbode.
McGoldrick should have done better when he got on the end of Crowley’s low cross. He was all alone and looked destined to score, but sent it wide of the goal. However, it would not have counted had he scored, as he was in an offside position with the linesman’s flag being raised.
Moments later, Gills had a huge penalty shout. Nolan tried his luck from distance, with his effort taking a deflection. The ball then struck the arm of a Notts County defender, taking it out of George Lapslie’s path. Despite what seemed a clear handball, the referee and his assistant remained unmoved.
In the 78th minute, there were two more substitutions for the visitors, as Jonny Williams and Marcus Wyllie replaced Lapslie and Nevitt.
Morris had to be alert to deny Jones with less than ten minutes remaining. Jones did well to get beyond Clark and Wakeling before fizzing a shot towards the near post. Morris stood firm, getting down to parry it behind the goal for a corner, which came to nothing.
The hosts thought they had equalised with three minutes remaining when Sam Austin scored from close range. However, after a lengthy period, the linesman raised his flag for offside. After a discussion with Lee Swabey, the final ruling was to rule out the goal.
Gills made their final change, as Oli Hawkins replaced McKenzie. That saw a formation change, with Hawkins going into the middle of a back five.
Jacob Bedeau had a massive chance to equalise deep into stoppage time. McGoldrick’s attempted header goalward skimmed into the path of the defender, who seemingly had a clear shot at goal.
However, there was some incredible defending by Ehmer and Hawkins, throwing themselves at the shot to block the effort before Jonny Williams headed away.
FULL-TIME: Notts County 0-1 Gillingham
Notts County: Bass, Macari, Platt, Bedeau, Jones (Cundy 90+4’), Palmer (Austin 74’), Crowley, Tsaroulla (Brown 58’), Grant (Gordon 74’), Abbott, McGoldrick
Unused Substitutes: Slocombe, Hinchy, Chicksen
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark, McKenzie (Hawkins 89’), Little, Clarke (Wakeling 66’), Lapslie (J. Williams 78’), Gbode (Nolan 66’), Nevitt (Wyllie 78’)
Unused Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, E. Williams
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 11,474 (994 Gillingham supporters)
