Gillingham got back to winning ways by clinching maximum points at Bristol Rovers on Gareth Ainsworth’s return to the fold.
Max Clark had a first-half penalty saved but made amends with a super finish early in the second half to put Gillingham ahead – a goal which won them the game. Rovers almost equalised in the final minute of added-on time but Jake Turner tipped Kamil Conteh’s header onto the crossbar.
Max Clark couldn’t convert from the penalty spot Picture : Keith Gillard
Ainsworth was back with the Gills team for the first time since his heart operation, watching from the stands. He was warmly greeted before kick-off by the visiting fans, who numbered in excess of 1,000.
Rovers had conceded 12 goals in their previous three League 2 outings but appeared to have made improvements with a 2-1 win over Salford City in the FA Cup the previous week.
They were the better team in the opening stages on Saturday but couldn’t make it count, missing a number of chances.
Bristol-born striker Seb Palmer-Houlden was one of two changes to the Gillingham team from their penalty shootout defeat to Newport County the week before.
Midfielder Nelson Khumbeni made his first league start of the season – only his fourth since joining the Gills in January. Khumbeni replaced injured Armani Little while Bradley Dack dropped to the bench.
A poor run of form – just a point from their previous five in the league – had seen the Gills slip to 10th in the table ahead of kick-off
The home side had a flurry of early corners and were putting the pressure on but there was nothing to trouble Gills keeper Turner.
A rare opportunity for the Gills saw Josh Andrews fire into the side netting after getting free of his marker.
Gillingham had a great chance to take the lead when referee Alan Young pointed to the penalty spot – much to the bafflement of most. There was confusion over his decision after he spotted an infringement in the box as Clark sent in a corner.
It was Clark who stepped up to take the kick but the penalty wasn’t good – hit straight down the middle and saved by keeper Luke Southwood, who hadn’t needed to move, grabbing hold of the loose ball after it cannoned off his knee.
It was Gillingham’s second successive penalty miss after Bradley Dack had one saved against Salford City. The Gills had also been knocked out on penalties the week before.
Negru should have put the home side ahead late in the half when Shaq Forde fizzed in a cross from out wide but he somehow missed, falling to convert from just a few yards out with the net empty.
Andrews came close to scoring an opener for the Gills before the break, picking out the bottom corner but unable to beat covering defender Clinton Mola.
There were plenty of attacking options on the bench for the Gills, as wingers Jonny Smith and Garath McCleary were both included after overcoming injuries. Aaron Rowe and Dack were also among the options when they chose to make changes.
The Gills came out for the second half unchanged and they were ahead with 54 minutes played.
It was Clark with the finish, responding to his penalty miss as he bent in a beauty past keeper Southwood. Hutton’s cross had been cleared into the path of the Gills left-back and after taking a touch, he fired home on the volley from just outside the box.
Joel Cotterill had put a shot wide for the hosts before Clark’s goal and Turner saved well from Alfie Chang afterwards as Rovers looked to respond. Another Chang effort went close with an hour gone.
McCleary made his Gills return off the bench late on after then Gills had done a good job of subduing the home side.
Home substitute Luke Thomas went close for the hosts with time running out for them, but couldn’t find the target.
McCleary and McKenzie both went into the book for wasting time as the Gills looked to run the clock down after seven extra minutes were added onto the 90.
Turner showed safe hands late on to claim a corner and a deep cross, but the Gills still almost conceded. It was Turner to the rescue, getting a fingertip to Conteh’s headed effort, which came off the bar, and Dack cleared another from the line deep in stoppage-time.
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Clark, A Smith, Gale, McKenzie, Khumbeni (Ogie 77mins), Coleman, Palmer-Houlden (Rowe 84mins), Nevitt (McCleary 84mins), Andrews (Dack 77mins). Subs not used: Holtam, J Smith, Vokes.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Southam-Hales, Bilongo (Issaka 74mins), Negru, Lockyer (Sparkes 83mins), Mola, Cotterill (Conteh 74mins), Chang, Forde (Thomas 68mins), Sotiriou (Dewsbury 83mins), Cavegn. Subs not used: Young, Moore.
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 8,056 (1,053 away)