Two firsts at “Fortress Priestfield” sank the Mariners on Valentine’s Day as Gillingham climbed out of the Football League’s bottom two places for the first time in 2023.
Second half goals from new boys George Lapslie and Oli Hawkins (both their respective first goals in Gillingham blue) sealed Neil Harris’ side a dramatic win at home base on a night where the love of this new look Gills side reached another level.
After their first defeat in five games on Saturday, the Gills went ahead ten minutes after the break when Lapslie stroked home Dom Jeffries’ centre, but when Gavan Holahan’s header beat Glenn Morris with a quarter of an hour left, it looked like honours would be even between the Gills and a Grimsby side who head to Southampton in the last sixteen on the FA Cup next week.
But then up stepped the Rainham End’s latest hero as Hawkins got on the end of Cheye Alexander’s wonderful cross to power home the winner with just three minutes left on the clock.
With Max Ehmer given the captain’s arm band with Shaun Williams making way for Lapslie in the only change to the Mansfield defeat, the Gills started well without really troubling the Grimsby goal, and indeed the opening half was a nervous affair with neither keeper actually having a shot to actually save.
John McAtee went closest for the visitors with a drive that beat Morris but was too high whilst Lapslie was perhaps too unselfish when through as he looked for Hawkins instead of going for goal.
The second half was a completely different affair and Tom Nichols was only denied by a magnificent save from Max Crocombe following an Alex MacDonald corner.
The opening goal duly arrived on fifty six minutes and sparked joyous scenes for Lapslie as he netted his first goal in front of the Rainham End.
Morris kept the Gills in front with an incredible save to deny McAtee and the home side were in control, but the Grimsby levelled out of almost absolutely nothing when Holohan ghosted into head past a stranded Morris.
Roared on by nearly five thousand of the faithful, the Gills were not to be denied and went looking for the winner – Nichols was again brilliantly denied by Crocombe, Hawkins’ shot was deflected wide as was Aiden O’Brien’s (who was on for MacDonald).
Just as it started to look as if the spoils would be shared, Alexander’s terrific cross was powered into the top corner by Hawkins to spark wild scenes as Gillingham climbed up the table to the seemingly dizzy heights of 21st in the standings.
With a trip to rock bottom Rochdale on Saturday, a fifth win in seven games will see a nine-point gap established – a gap that just a few short weeks ago seemed just an impossible dream… that said Harris’ revitalised side are now just seven wins from the Play Off places… too much?
Gillingham line up: Morris, McKenzie, Ehmer, Masterson, Tutonda (Alexander 60), Dieng, Jefferies, MacDonald (O’Brien 73), Lapslie (Williams 73), Hawkins (Abrahams 93), Nichols (Wright 94).
Subs not used: Turner, Gbode.
Goals: Lapslie (56), Hawkins (87).
Booked: MacDonald (70).
Grimsby Town line up : Crocombe, Efete, Glennon, Waterfall, Holohan, Lloyd (Orsi 76), McAtee, Clifton, Morris (Dickson-Peters 89), Smith, Maher.
Subs not used: Emmanuel, Hunt, O’Neill, Amos, Gallacher.
Goal: Holohan (75).
Booked: Driscoll-Glennon (19), Holohan (91), Waterfall (94).
Attendance: 5097 (294 Grimsby)
Referee: Mr Craig Hicks