Ashley Nadesan’s second Gillingham goal in the opening week of the season made it three wins out of three as Neil Harris’ side beat Accrington Stanley as League football returned to Fortress Priestfield.
With new signing Macauley Bonne having to settle for a place on the bench, what proved to be the match winner arrived on the half hour as Nadesan raced onto a great through ball from his former Crawley teammate Tom Nichols, before skipping round Stanley keeper Toby Savin to send a sold out Rainham End into a celebratory mood and ease any nerves around the ground.
Robbie McKenzie also kept his place in the starting eleven whilst Harris reverted mainly to the side that had won at Stockport, with the Williams pair returning in midfield and Jake Turner in goal.
In the opening minutes, the visitors were tested by the Gills, Nichols rounded the keeper but ran out of room; Shaun Williams drove inches too high before a mightily relieved Savin saw a long ball from Scott Malone bounce over his head, the keeper very fortunate to be able to fall on the loose ball just in time.
Nadesan then opened the scoring and before the break, McKenzie was denied his fourth goal of the week by a really brave save from Savin, and at the break, there were smiles all around home base.
Early in the second half, Gills hearts were in their mouths when Jack Nolan stepped up and struck a free kick that for all the world looked like it was creeping inside Turner’s post, but thankfully for the home side, it went outside the goal!
McKenzie then went close again, and many felt that Jonny Williams had been flattened in the box, many sadly that didn’t include referee Finnie!
The Gills were still in search of the second that as time ticked by would have surely sealed the points, Max Ehmer did brilliantly to rob a Stanley defender and from his pull back, Nadesan’s effort was blocked and following up George Lapslie fired over.
Bonne made his bow eight minutes from time (for Nadesan), and you were left to wonder how long it will be before the faithful see both the summer signings on the pitch together, Tuesday night at Sutton United perhaps?
GILLINGHAM – Turner, McKenzie, Ehmer, Ogie, Malone, Dieng (Lapslie 75), S. Williams, Jefferies (Alexander 82), J. Williams (Coleman 82), Nadesan (Bonne 83), Nichols.
Subs not used – Morris, Masterson, Clarke.
Goal: Nadesan (29).
Booked: Jeffereies (5), Ogie (58), Ehmer (90).
ACCRINGTON STANLEY – Savin, Mellor (Lowe 75), Rich-Baghuelou, Hills, Quirk, Conneely, Nolan (Longelo 65), Coyle, Leigh, McConville (Whalley 65), Andrews (Adedoyin 65).
Subs not used – Isherwood, Pickles, Sloane.
Booked: Andrews (26), Rich-Baghuelou (62).
REFEREE – Mr Will Finnie
Attendance: 6489
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC