Joe Gbode’s first goal for Gillingham was not enough to earn the Gills a share of the spoils against high-flying Notts County in Saturday’s early kick-off. 

The Gillingham born youngster netted his first goal for the Club with a powerful header from Amarni Little’s corner ten minutes from time but by then the Gills were already two behind and despite the best efforts, County took they points back to Nottingham as they climbed all be it temporarily to second in the table. 

The home side started brightly and JJ Morgan was oh so close to his first Gillingham goal as Shad Ogies fizzed a ball across the face of the visitor’s goal early on.  

David McGoldrick had the best early chance for the visitors, but curled an effort from the edge of the box just past Glenn Morris’ post, and shortly after, the Gills stopper pulled off a magnificent save to deny Alassana Jatta, but from the corner, County led – Nick Tsaroulla prodding home as the Gills didn’t clear. 

The lead was doubled moments later as McGoldrick took advantage of a loosely placed passed and brilliantly lobbed over a motionless Morris. 

Asher Agbinone thudded a shot straight at Alex Bass, before moments towards the end of the half, County were agonisingly close to a third as Jodi Jones’s free-kick beat a diving Morris but also the post. 

Little had an early chance in the second period with a low drive that Bass needed two grabs to secure, and then the Gills fans were grateful to see Jatta’s header go wide when well placed. 

Gillingham upped the tempo in a bid to get back into the game after a triple change, and one of the subs – Jayden Clarke – was denied by Bass, but as Gbode bore down on the rebound only a desperate last-ditch challenge denied the Gillingham man. But he was not to be denied as he headed Little’s corner into the net, not only for his first goal for the club, but to also become the first Gills player to score a goal in the John Coleman era. 

And whilst the manager would have been pleased at the response, there will still be doubts – especially going forward – with the closing of the transfer window looming… 

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Gale, Ehmer, Ogie, McKenzie, Khumbeni (Dack), Little, Agbinone (Gbode), Morgan (Rowe), Nevitt (Jayden Clarke) 

Subs – Turner, Max Clark, Nolan 

NOTTS COUNTY – Bass, Bedeau, Platt, McDonald, Jones (Jarvis), Abbott, Palmer, Tsaroulla (Gordon), Whitaker (Edwards), McGoldrick, Jatta 

Subs – Slocombe, Cundy, Johnson, Cisse  

REFEREE – Mr. Reeves 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC