After successive defeats that left manager Steve Evans calling for improvement, Gillingham gave the boss and their fans an early Christmas present with a resounding away performance that resulted in a 4-1 thumping of Rochdale at Spotland.
Following reverses to Doncaster and Accrington, Evans had “asked” his side to hit the ground running and in this occasion that’s exactly what the Gills did as Robbie McKenzie, John Akinde and Connor Ogilvie all netted in the opening half before the giant striker added his second and the visitor’s fourth from the spot just two minutes after the break.
Evans though will have been frustrated that Rochdale spoiled the clean sheet in stoppage time, but by then the points were well and truly returning to Kent as the Gills won at Spotland for just the second time in fifteen visits!
Following Tuesday’s defeat to Accrington, the manager made four changes to the starting eleven as all four replacements from midweek in the starting eleven as Akinde, Scott Robertson, Alex MacDonald and Tom O’Connor all recalled in place of the injured pair of Dominic Samuel and Jacob Mellis, with Robbie Drysdale and Vadaine Oliver dropping to the bench.
And unlike many games this season it started so well for the visitors as McKenzie’s first goal in a Gillingham shirt put them in front after just nine minutes as he fired home from the edge of the box after Akinde’s effort had been saved. It could had been even better for the Gills as both Robertson and Akinde had already had chances to open the scoring.
McKenzie was then denied a personal second by a brilliant save before Akinde finally netted just his second goal for the Gills on 21 minutes as he met Ogilvie’s flick (from Ryan Jackson’s long throw) with a sweet half volley that flew into the home side’s net.
Keeper Jack Bonham made an excellent block with his legs to deny Alex Newby as the home side broke swiftly on the half hour – a chance that the home side would regret as in stoppage time at the end of the half the Gills netted again. Kyle Dempsey found Robertson from a short free-kick, and his shot deflected off Ogilvie and nestled into the corner of the net.
If there was any doubt where the points were heading at the break, there wasn’t any more just two minutes into the second period as Gillingham added their fourth. Akinde was fouled in the box and as the official pointed to the spot, the big striker dusted himself down and drove home the spot kick – having scored just once this season before this game, Akinde had now scored twice in the first 48 minutes of this Pre Christmas afternoon.
With the points well and truly in the bag, the visitors bossed the rest of the game and perhaps should have increased their lead still further – Robertson was brilliantly denied from distance before MacDonald curled a beauty just wide of the post. As the game meandered into stoppage time, the home side did get on the scoreboard as Eoghan O’Connell gloriously beat Bonham from distance, but for the home side it was far too little, far too late!
The manager called for a response and boy, did Steve Evans get one as Gillingham recorded their biggest away win since he took charge at Priestfield, and it has to be remembered as well that the last time Gillingham were triumphant at Spotland was the final game of the 2008/2009 regular season just a couple of weeks before Simeon Jackson’s header won the Play Off Final for Mark Stimson’s side against Shrewsbury Town under the Wembley arch… An omen perhaps? Merry Christmas Mr Evans!
ROCHDALE – Lynch, Keohane, O’Connell, McNulty, Roberts, Dooley, Morley. Bierley (Bola 63), Baar (Done 63), Newby (Tavares 74), Humphrys.
Subs not used – Bradley, Hooper, Charlton, Dunne.
Goal: O’Connell (91).
Booked: O’Connell (94).
GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Ogilvie, O’Connor, Eccles (Willock 92), McKenzie, Robertson (Drysdale 89), Dempsey, MacDonald, Akinde.
Subs not used – Coyle, Walsh, Oliver, Woods, Maghoma.
Goals: McKenzie (9), Akinde (21, pen 47), Ogilvie (45).
REFEREE – Mr Yates