Mark Bonner’s incredible start as Gillingham boss continues as for the second weekend in a row, the League Two leaders were beaten by the Gills who now themselves occupy top spot. 

After knocking Notts County off top spot seven days ago, former boss Stephen Clemence brought his table topping Barrow to Priestfield, but they were no match for Bonner’s blues who ran out 2-0 winners as Robbie McKenzie made the first for Jayden Clarke and then added a second himself. 

Bonner’s start of nineteen points from eight games has only ever been bettered in the league by Martin Allen, whose first eight games in charge yielded 22 points, not even Tony Pulis can match Bonner’s start (Pulis’ first eight games amassed “only” seventeen points). 

But this was all about today and the belief that Bonner has already instilled into the 2024 version of the Gills as they gained a second statement victory in a row against a side who have started the season like a train and topped many of the analytical early tables. 

Clemence’s Cumbrians have only ever won twice in Kent and have now only scored once in their three visits since returning to the Football League, and to be fair apart from a period at the start of the second half, the Gills were well worthy of the three points. 

Theo Vassell had the games first chance but did not really test Gills keeper Glenn Morris with a tame shot. The same cannot be said of Gillingham’s first chance as Jack Nolan forced keeper Wyll Stanway into a really fine save after the Gills man had cut in from a wide position. 

Clarke gave the Gills the lead on seventeen minutes. McKenzie spilt the defence with a superb through ball and the onrushing Clarke kept his composure to give Stanway no chance as the keeper tried to narrow the angle. 

George Lapslie left the frame of the Barrow goal shaking with an incredible angled drive (from Romeao Hutton’s ball) that had beaten Stanway, but the visitors survived until the interval. 

Whatever Clemence said to his new side had the effect as the visitors came out and took the game to the Gills. Emile Acqhah’s header was magnificently kept out by Glenn Morris, who then five minutes later pulled off an even better save to deny Dean Campbell’s low drive that fizzed through a crowd of bodies and left you wondering how Morris saw the ball let alone kept it out! 

The Gills had weathered the Barrow storm and just past the hour, the lead was doubled as McKenzie ghosted into the far post to steer Nolans free kick wide of Stanway and into the net. 

It was nearly three-nil not long after the returning Ethan Coleman had a header really well kept out by Stanway and from the resulting corner, quite how the ball was cleared is a mystery as the Barrow defence was at sixes and sevens.  

One of the biggest cheers of the afternoon came fourteen minutes from time when Bradley Dack was introduced (in place of goal scorer Clarke). Dack’s first league appearance in a blue Gillingham shirt at Priestfield for a little over seven years as the Gills comfortably ran out winners and sit pretty at the tables top ahead of Tuesday’s home game with Grimsby Town. 

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Ehmer, Ogie, Max Clark, Little, McKenzie (Coleman), Nolan (Gbode), Lapslie (Jonny Williams), Jayden Clarke (Dack), Nevitt (Wyllie) 

Subs – Ashby-Hammond, Hawkins 

Barrow: Stanway, Eccleston, Campbell, Garner (Worrall), Newby (Popov), Stokes, Foley, Acquah (Telford), Feely (Kouyate), Jackson, Vassell 

Subs – Daniels, Tiensia 

Referee – Mr. Hair 

Attendance – 7166

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC