Four goals from Grimsby Town gave them a comfortable win against Gillingham at MEMS Priestfield.
After going behind in the first half, the Gills managed to find an equaliser with Garath McCleary’s second goal for the club. But three goals in the space of ten minutes, including an unfortunate error from goalkeeper Glenn Morris gave Grimsby the points as they hunt down a playoff spot.
Following their frustrating loss on Tuesday away at Cheltenham, the Gills were keen to put on a performance for their home fans, who have not seen the best of their team at home this season.
Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to Tuesday’s team. Garath McCleary and Seb Palmer-Houlden were rotated in for Bradley Dack and Sam Vokes, who moved to the bench. Andy Smith and Robbie McKenzie both picked up injuries on Tuesday and were left out of the squad altogether. They were replaced by Lenni Cirino and Nelson Khumbeni.
Dave Artell made two changes to the Grimsby team who lost 2-1 away at Chesterfield on Tuesday. Jamie Walker and Justin Amaluzor replaced Geza Turi and Darragh Burns, who both dropped to the bench.
The first clear chance fell to Grimsby. They moved the ball quickly through midfield, with Andy Cook threading an excellent through-ball to Jazer Kabia, who was through on goal with only Glenn Morris to beat. Seemingly out of nowhere, Conor Masterson made excellent ground to back track and make an expertly-timed sliding block.
Gillingham had their moments in the opening 20 minutes with most of their attacking threat coming from the skipper, Armani Little. Little managed to out-muscle and dispossess Clarke Odour and put an excellent through ball in to Hale who looked to be clear on goal, but he was judged to be offside.
Minutes later, Little was again dribbling purposefully through midfield and found Palmer-Houlden with a well-placed pass. Palmer-Houlden cut inside and took a shot with his right, but it went wide to the left.
Gillingham grew into the game after 20 minutes. There were dangerous crosses played into the box by Cirino and Palmer-Houlden. McCleary also appeared to have a great opportunity to score from the six-yard box, but he was offside.
Grimsby then had a spell when they were the aggressors. They had a lot of success playing overlaps on the left wing and moved the ball quickly, which created plenty of crosses and some half-chances which they were unable to convert.
Morris was called into action in the 36th minute as Cook fired a shot off from the centre of the Gillingham box. Morris moved well to his left to parry the ball to safety.
With the game looking like it was going to be 0-0 at half-time, Grimsby opened the scoring. Grimsby captain Kieran Green headed a well-directed pass to Cook in the final third. Cook was positioned between the centre-backs and broke away from them, placing his right-footed shot into the bottom left corner.
The final minutes of the first half were quite physical as Gillingham tried to find an equaliser. Plenty of strong challenges were flying in with each team receiving a yellow card. However, the Gills were unable to create any opportunities, so the score at half time remained 0-1
At the start of the second half, Gillingham looked to be the more attacking side. Their best chance in the opening minutes came from a cross by Little aimed at Masterson, but it was well-defended by Grimsby and came to nothing.
Max Clark played an excellent through ball to Cirino, who was almost clear on goal, but his cross was well-blocked and went behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
The Gills got their reward for a good opening ten minutes when they levelled the scoring.
Little had the ball on the left, just inside the Gillingham half. He played an exquisite Crossfield ball to McCleary, who was lurking on the right wing deep into the Grimsby half. McCleary took the ball into the box, beating the defender, then deftly lifted it over the oncoming keeper and into the net for his second goal for the club.
McCleary was on hand at the other end of the pitch a few minutes later to cut off a dangerous attack in the Gillingham box and divert the ball away from danger.
The Gillingham equaliser made Grimsby go on the offensive again as they looked for a winner that would help them reach the playoffs.
They seemed almost certain to score around the 66th minute when an attack left Cook with only Morris to beat in the Gillingham area. However, Masterson was again on hand to provide another excellent sliding block on the edge of the six-yard box, which he deservedly celebrated.
Gillingham were inches away from going ahead in the 72nd minute. Clark played an excellent high through-ball to McCleary who was in a foot race with the last man in front of goal. McCleary got to the ball first, but his effort was narrowly off-target.
There was a goal just after the McCleary miss – but it was for the visitors.
Grimsby played a long ball towards the Gillingham area. Glenn Morris came to collect it but soon realised it was to fall outside the area and found himself out of position. Jaze Kabia pounced on the loose ball and placed it into the empty net.
Ainsworth made some attacking substitutions, bringing on Dack and Vokes for Cirino and Masterson.
Grimsby added a third goal in the 80th minute. An inswinging corner near the away fans from Charles Vernam was headed deftly into the far post by Kieran Green.
Three soon became four for the visitors. Kieran Green made a darting run down the right wing deep in the Gillingham half. He played a sharp cross towards the back post, which was converted by substitute Charles Vernam.
To give the home side some credit, they never gave up and were still desperately looking for goals in injury time, despite the scoreline. Max Clark attempted an audacious chip from the centre circle when he saw the keeper off his line. This drew a scrambling save as the ball was tipped over the bar for a corner which came to nothing.
Given the respective league positions of the two sides, the result is hardly surprising. Grimsby were comfortably the better team for the majority of the match. However, there was a period in the second half where there seemed to be genuine belief that the Gills could get something from the match, but the combination of McCleary’s miss and Morris’ mistake within the space of a minute firmly gave the momentum back to Grimsby.
The end of the season needs to come quickly for Ainsworth’s side so they can regroup with both eyes firmly on next season.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Masterson (Vokes 79’), McCleary (Akomeah 87’), Little, Palmer-Houlden, Khumbeni (Waldock 88’), Gale, Cirino (Dack 79’), Hale.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Andrews, J Williams.
Goals: McCleary 55’
Booked: Little 45+3’, Hale 90+3’
Grimsby: Smith, Kacurri, Green, Rodgers, Walker (Turi 66’), Kabia (Vernam 75’), Amaluzor (Burns 75’), Staunton (Sweeney 76’), McJannet, Oduor (Warren 87’), Cook.
Subs Not Used: Pym, Booth.
Goals: Cook 42’, Kabia 74’, Green 80’ Vernam 85’
Booked: Amaluzor 45’
HT 0 – 1 FT 1 – 4
Attendance: 5863 (646 Grimsby)
Referee: Mr Oliver Mackey
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.