The Gills continued their fine start to the SkyBet League One season with a 2-1 victory at home to Bury this afternoon, which saw them hit the summit of the league in the early stages of the campaign. 

Right back Ryan Jackson netted the first for the Gills before an own goal from Anthony Kay gave the home side a two goal cushion, Bury did pull a goal back through Tom Pope just after the hour mark.

The home side were out of the traps quicker than their opponents, and summer arrival Jay Emmanual-Thomas saw an effort blocked in the second minute, four minutes later though and the Gills were in front.

The goal game from an unlikely source as right back Ryan Jackson was played in behind the Bury defence by a good ball from Mark Byrne, the ball coupled with a Bury error allowed, Jackson to slot home past Ben Williams in the visitors goal.

Shortly before the half hour mark, Stuart Nelson showed why he is one of the most highly rated keepers in League One. A Jackson foul, saw Jacob Mellis standing over the dead ball in a dangerous position. His free kick looked to be heading into the top left hand corner, only for Nelson to fly across his goal and palm the ball away, it was another excellent save from the Gills Number One.

Wright was the next one to have a good chance, again it was Jackson who was impressing down the right who sent the ball into the box, only for the Gills captain not to be able to make the necessary contact inside the 6 yard box.

Just before half time, Emmanuel Osadebe was just a gloss of white paint away from doubling the Gill lead. This time it was Paul Konchesky who sent an excellent cross into the area, from which Osadebe rose highest to meet the ball with his head, only for his effort to come crashing back off the crossbar.

Half Time 1-0 

Clearly the Bury management were not impressed with their sides performance in the first half as they sent on Zeli Ismail and Danny Mayor, as despite their early pressure and the free kick from Mellis, they hadn’t really tested the Gills defence.

Pope was once again a thorn in the Gills side as he has been over the years, and early in the second half Bury broke on the counter attack, feeding the ball to Pope but he fired his effort over the cross bar.

Shortly before the hour mark, the Gills doubled their lead and looked to be heading towards a first home win of the season. Jackson was once again the architect down the right wing, with Bury seemingly unable to cope with his pace.

He once again raced down the right hand side before firing a teasing cross into the area and across the six yard box. Kay could only divert the cross into the back of his own net and past the helpless Williams.

With the Gills beginning to dominate the game and possession it looked like Bury would be hard pressed to find a way back into the game, but in the 66th minute they got a lifeline.

Tom Soares picked up the ball and found space, before sending a cross into the Gills area, the ball found Pope and he made no mistake with his shot, burying his effort into the bottom corner and once again showed that he is a real thorn in the Gills side.

The away side then began to throw everything they had at the Gills, which pretty much included launching long balls up field towards Pope and hoping that he could knock the ball down and building the attack from there.

This didn’t really help the previous flow of the game and the Gills managed to see the game out and the six additional minutes of injury time, to send the Gills fans home happy.

Full Time 2-1