Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ curling finish, for his 9th goal of the season, in the second minute of stoppage time won a valuable three points for Gillingham in a match that saw them come from behind to win despite having been the better team throughout.

Northampton Town, who now slip down to 7th, took the lead against the run of play on 38 when John-Joe O’Toole was given space in the 6-yard box to head home.  The lead was cancelled out three minutes into the second period as Max Ehmer slid home his fourth of the season and it looked as though each side would take a point until Emmanuel-Thomas’ intervention in stoppage time.

There was a sense of relief about Gills manager, Justin Edinburgh, as he said “I’m obviously so pleased for the players and everyone connected with this football club.  At times it didn’t look like it would come and it would have been another game that we should have won, but it was a great finish by JET (Emmanuel-Thomas).”

“I thought we dominated the first 35 minutes, but there was a lapse of concentration so we go one behind.  We were a bit lucky with a block and the post to stop going two down, which I think was a pivotal moment.  It would have been hard to come back but to get the goal back so early in the second half lifted the whole atmosphere and that filtered through to the players.  You then think you’re running out of time, but the winner was a big relief.”

“I’ve said for weeks that I thought we were playing well and I am pleased that again today we’ve played really well.  We are getting better and the result has come along with it.  We’ve got to be a little more ruthless, a little more nasty, but at least we were looking assured.  This will give everyone a boost.”

Against an opponent who started the day in the playoff positions, Gillingham dominated the early exchanges.  Billy Knott, looking comfortable on the left of the three midfielder, had an enterprising run that got the crowd off their seats before being outnumbered by three Northampton defenders.  Knott then followed this up with a turn and shot that was deflected for a corner, having found space between the Cobblers’ defensive and midfield lines.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, drifting inside off his right wing, had two 30-yard shots, the second of which brought a second save of the day out of Adam Smith; the first from Knott from a similar range.  And Emmanuel-Thomas’ wing partner, Frank Nouble, pressurised Brendan Moloney into heading past his own advancing keeper from a long ball over the defence, but Moloney was able to recover to hook the ball away from the line.

With so much territory and possession, Gillingham were almost caught out on a counter attack in the 20th minute, as Zander Diamond’s ball over the top was picked up by Sam Hoskins.  Fortunately for the Gills, Stuart Nelson stayed big and strong to block Hoskins’ shot from a tight angle as his defenders tried to get back into position.

Emmanuel-Thomas and Nouble combined to set up a crossing position that was eventually retrieved for a shot by Knott, but again, the chance went over.

Despite having little joy around the Gillingham penalty area, Northampton finally forced a couple of corners in the 38th minute.  From the second, from the left, a deep delivery to the back post was headed back into the 6-yard box by Diamond, where John-Joe O’Toole was standing, unmarked, to head home between Nelson and two defenders on the line.

Max Ehmer hit a first time drive from a Gillingham corner on the right, but his shot slid just past the right hand post, and JJ Hooper saw a similar result to a long-range shot for Northampton as play switched from end-to-end.

In the dying moments of the first half, Gillingham were struggling to clear concerted Northampton pressure and Cargill ended up lofting a clearance high into the air.  As the ball dropped on the edge of the Gillingham area, Marc Richards nodded down to the feet of Hooper, who turned quickly but saw his shot deflect off Cargill onto the right hand post and away to safety.

Just as in the first period, Gillingham started the quicker, and this time received an early reward.  Jake Hessenthaler’s left wing corner was flicked by Emmanuel-Thomas towards the back post, where Ehmer was sliding in to force a shot between Adam Smith’s legs and level matters.

Moments later, the Gills could have been ahead as another Hessenthaler cross caused problems in the Northampton area, with the ball finding its way through to Nouble, whose shot was charged down by Moloney for a corner.

Northampton made a change, bringing on the physical presence of Alex Revell in place of Marc Richards and Revell started to win aerial balls against Ehmer, allowing Northampton to push forward.  Matty Taylor curled a freekick past Nelson’s right post as the visitors went close.

Bradley Dack returned from the bench for his first appearance since Charlton on 22nd October, and was straight into the action. Paul Konchesky’s ball over the Northampton defence was controlled well by Dack’s first touch, but his second dragged the shot across goal and wide.

For long periods of the second half, both defences were on top, with frequent freekicks and injuries disrupting the flow of the match.  With ten minutes left, Northampton suddenly got a sight of the Gillingham goal as Moloney burst forward from the back, played a one-two with Kenji Gorre, and drove into the area, only for Nelson’s legs to block his shot.

Into stoppage time, and the game just seemed to be drifting towards a draw until a moment of control and precision decided the match.  Patient interplay on the right between Emmanuel-Thomas, Josh Wright and Ryan Jackson saw the ball being passed between them.  Wright then slipped a pass in behind for Jackson to cross and Northampton’s defence only scuffed the clearance to the edge of the box.  Emmanuel-Thomas stepped round Taylor and curled a precise left-foot shot round Smith’s dive into the bottom left corner.

For a game that they had started dominating, and had seemed to be heading for a point apiece, the winning goal was no more than Gillingham deserved.  This result moves the Gills up to 17th in the League One table, three points and four places above the relegation zone.

GILLINGHAM: 1- Stuart Nelson; 2- Ryan Jackson, 5- Max Ehmer, 19- Baily Cargill, 12- Paul Konchesky; 44- Josh Wright, 8- Jake Hessenthaler, 11- Billy Knott; 50- Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 10- Cody McDonald, 45- Frank Nouble (23- Bradley Dack 64).

Subs not used: 13- Tom Hadler, 6- Deji Oshilaja, 3- Bradley Garmston, 16- Emmanuel Osadebe, 7- Scott Wagstaff, 9- Rory Donnelly.

Goals: Max Ehmer 48, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 90+2.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN: 1- Adam Smith; 2- Brendan Moloney, 5- Zander Diamond, 22- Lewin Nyatanga, 3- David Buchanan; 31- Matt Taylor, 21- John-Joe O’Toole; 4- Paul Anderson, 14- Sam Hoskins, 30- JJ Hooper (11- Kenji Gorre 78); 9- Marc Richards (10- Alex Revell 58).

Subs not used: 26- David Cornell, 8- Joel Byrom, 15- Alfie Potter, 16- Harry Beautyman, 20- Raheem Hanley.

Goals: John-Joe O’Toole 38

Attendance: 5,790 (637 away)

Referee: Mr Lee Probert
Assistants: Mr Daniel Leach and Mr Michael Webb
Fourth Official: Mr Constantine Hatzidakis