Another painful loss for Gillingham as a poor start gifts Oldham a 3-0 win at Priestfield.
Gillingham’s record moved to five losses from the last six games after a painful afternoon at MEMS Priestfield. Some poor defending in a lacklustre first 30 minutes gifted two goals to the away side. And although the Kent side rallied to produce some good football either side of half-time, they were again unable to score when the opportunities presented themselves.
With the Gills having lost four of their previous five games, a win today was essential to give them a chance of continuing to compete for the playoff spots.
Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Chesterfield on Tuesday. Andy Smith, Sam Gale, Robbie McKenzie and Josh Andrews all dropped to the bench with Travis Akomeah, Ethan Coleman, Garath McCleary and Sam Vokes replacing them. The formation was also adjusted with Ainsworth preferring a back four to Tuesday’s back three.
Oldham manager Micky Mellon made just one change to the team who won 2-0 at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, bringing in Ryan Woods for Kai Payne.
The opening minutes were evenly matched with neither side particularly dominating the game. Blustery winds made controlling the ball from the air difficult for both teams.
The first big chance came for Oldham at the near post. A missed clearance from Travis Akomeah allowed Calum Kavanagh to pounce on the loose ball and have a free shot from a narrow angle. Glenn Morris produced a good save to tip it behind.
However, the resulting corner led to the opening goal for Oldham. Mike Fondop picked the ball up on the edge of the area. He found Tomas Pett in the area, who laid it off to Jake Caprice on the overlap. Caprice crossed it in low and Kavanagh tapped in from close range.
The score was doubled minutes later. Again, following a corner, Gillingham, failed to clear the ball. Sam Vokes made an excellent headed clearance on the line, running towards his own net. However, Caprice put in a diagonal cross towards the far post, which Emmanuel Monthe converted from close range.
Oldham continued to be the more aggressive side as Gillingham struggled to create goal scoring opportunities. Morris was called into action a couple of times to make important saves.
Skipper Armani Little seemed determined to galvanise the team and covered a lot of ground chasing long balls and putting pressure on the Oldham defence. He almost pulled a goal back when he lashed at a loose ball on the edge of the box, which took a deflection and wrong-footed Matthew Hudson, who had to scramble to save it.
Gillingham grew into the game, enjoying more attacking possession as the half progressed. However, as with recent games, they struggled to create clear-cut chances to score.
Oldham had an excellent chance to make it 3-0 as a cross reached Kavanagh completely unmarked in the Gillingham box, but his header was aimed straight at Morris.
Dack had the best chance of the half for Gillingham. On the counter-attack, a cross was whipped in from the right and found Dack charging into the box. His shot was aimed close to Hudson’s right and was saved.
Ronan Hale had a spectacular effort from distance as he fired from 25 yards out, drawing an excellent save as Hudson tipped over the shot as it rocketed towards the top-right corner.
The half ended with Gillingham looking the better of the two sides, but still two goals behind.
Gillingham made a substitution at half-time, bringing in the pace and energy of Seb Palmer-Houlden for Garath McCleary, hoping to stretch the Oldham back line.
Both sides came out looking to attack in the second half. Oldham initially had the better chances, forcing Akomeah into a foul for which he was cautioned, and subsequently substituted.
Gillingham responded with a promising Dack free kick that had Oldham scrambling to clear.
The game opened up as Gillingham committed more players forward, looking for goals to get them back in the game, and the game grew scrappier.
Seb Palmer-Houlden had a half-chance to score as he fired in a volley from a narrow angle, which was pushed behind for a corner.
Ainsworth made three more substitutions, hoping to change the home side’s fortunes as Josh Andrews, Cameron Antwi and Robbie McKenzie for Vokes, Little and Coleman.
Oldham could have sealed the points with a very slick move between their front four. It ended with Kavanagh having only Morris to beat from inside the box. He poked the shot straight at the Gillingham keeper.
Andrews missed an excellent chance to score in the 73rd minute. Dack made a good interception around the halfway line. He fired a pass out to Antwi on the left wing. His cross found Andrews unmarked in the box, who skied it way over the bar.
Dack was again influential. With Oldham on the attack, he picked up the ball deep in the Gillingham half and played a through ball to Hale, who ran towards goal, tracked by one defender. Hale got the wrong side of the defender and squared to Palmer-Houlden, who fired off a shot that was pushed behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Gillingham continued attacking with Dack shooting over the bar and Andrews having a shot from distance comfortably saved.
The points were sealed with Oldham’s third goal. Following a Gillingham attack, striker Mike Fondop picked up a loose ball just outside the Gillingham area. He beat the defender and scored low to Morris’ right.
Following that goal, the energy drained out of the game. Oldham could have made it four as Omar Beckles’ pass to Remeao Hutton was comfortably intercepted by Pett, who squared it to Fondop. But the ball was slightly behind the Oldham Striker and Sam Gale got across in time to block it and clear.
The full-time whistle blew after Josh Andrews failed to connect with a Cameron Antwi cross.
The loss will be a painful one for Gillingham – the fans in the Rainham end certainly expressed their frustration after the final whistle.
Gillingham’s recent form has been frustrating with some cagey 1-0 losses despite performing reasonably well in large parts of the game. But this loss was comprehensive and will be tough to take for Ainsworth as the playoffs now seem an impossibility.
A difficult afternoon at MEMS Priestfield.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Coleman (McKenzie 66), McCleary (Palmer-Houlden 45’), Little (Antwi 66’), Akomeah (Gale ’50), Vokes (Andrews 66’), Dack, Hale, Beckles.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Smith.
Goals:
Booked: Akomeah 48’, Dack 68’
Oldham: Hudson, Pett, Daniels, Monthe, Woods, Fondop (Garner 90+3’), Stevens (Payne 70’), Drummond (Taylor 90+3’), Kavanagh (Hammond 75’), Caprice, Robson.
Subs Not Used: Donaghy, Taylor, Garner, Sutton, Jalo.
Goals: Kavanagh 11’, Monthe 17’, Fondop 78’
Booked: Robson 36’, Kavanagh 45’