A stoppage time goal from Connor Mahoney was all that Gillingham had to show from a cold afternoon in Birkenhead as Stephen Clemence watched his new side drop to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Tranmere Rovers.
For new Head Coach Stephen Clemence it was a disappointing return to Merseyside where the Clemence name is still renowned following his Dads career at Anfield. Clemence made one change to the side that had beaten Salford seven days previously with Scott Malone returning from injury to captain the side.
And after a tight opening half hour it was Malone who forced the first save of the game from Rovers keeper Luke McGee. Tom Nichols and Malone created the chance and the Gills skipper was denied by the keepers feet and in the scramble that ensued, somehow the Tranmere defence denied Nichols the opening goal of the game.
The home side then went close as Rob Apter’s curling effort beat Jake Turner but just wouldn’t curl enough for the home side, but it proved to be a warning for the Gills as on the stroke of half time, the Tranmere winger put the home side ahead with an angled drive beyond an exposed Turner from a tight angle.
The Gills were consigned to defeat in the opening quarter of an hour of the second period as first Connor Jennings glancing header made it two-nil before Apter scored his second and Rovers third on the hour, cutting the box before beating Turner.
Gillingham responded as Ethan Coleman and sub Tim Dieng both tested McGee and Shad Ogie was inches away from pulling a goal back as Macauley Bonne flicked the ball across the box.
The home keeper was kept busy and did well to push Malones effort over the bar before the Gills finally found a way through as Mahoney curled an outstanding free kick that even McGee couldn’t get anywhere near but was too little too late for the Gills.
On a long trip home, Clemence would have had a lot to think about ahead of what could be a pivotal week for the Club. With the Emirates FA Cup showdown with Charlton Athletic looming next week, Tuesday sees the Gills bogey side visiting Priestfield as AFC Wimbledon come to Kent with the home side winning just five of the clubs nineteen meetings although the Wombles havent won in the County post pandemic!
TRANMERE ROVERS – McGee, O’Connor, Davies, Turnbull (Yarney), Wood, Apter (Hawkes), Walker (McAlear), Hendry, Morris (Saunders), Jennings, Dennis
Subs – Robson, Leake, Pike
GILLINGHAM – Turner, Alexander, Masterson, Ogie, Malone, Coleman, Jefferies, Jonny Williams (Dieng), Lapslie (Jayden Clarke), Mahoney, Nichols (Bonne)
Subs – Morris, Max Clark, Ehmer, Shaun Williams
REFEREE – Mr Edwards
Images courtesy of Gillingham FC