Goals from Andy Smith and Garath McCleary secured three points for Gillingham in a combative and bad-tempered contest against Accrington Stanley who finished with nine men at MEMS Priestfield.
Having broken their losing streak with a hard-fought draw against promotion-chasing Walsall, the Gills were keen to put in a good display for the home fans against the visitors.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to the side who drew 2-2 away at Walsall. Captain Armani Little returned to the starting 11 following his suspension, replacing Harry Waldock, who was not named in the squad. Lenni Cirino also started ahead of Bradley Dack, who dropped to the bench. Conor Masterson was also named among the substitutes after a long spell out with an injury.
Accrington manager John Doolan made only one change to the squad who won 2-0 at home to Crewe on Friday. He added Charlie Hall to the substitutes, while the starting 11 remained the same.
The opening minutes were relatively even, until Accrington had the first clear chance of the game – a free header from Freddie Sass which went narrowly wide and drew some frustration from Ainsworth on the touchline.
Both Ronan Hale and Ollie Wright, the Accrington keeper, received a caution for a verbal altercation between them in the Accrington area following a clearance.
The home side had a shout for a penalty with the Rainham End convinced there was an Accrington handball amid a melee in their box. However, the referee waved play on.
Lenni Cirino had a shot on target following a driving run from midfield by Little. Cirino cut inside onto his right foot on the left-hand side of the box and fired a short low to the left of the goal. However, the keeper was equal to it.
The home side had another opportunity following an excellent team move. Cirino dribbled into the Accrington half, then cut it back for Khumbeni. He found Hutton on the right, who crossed deep into the box. The ball then came back to Hale in the centre, but he couldn’t quite get his shot away before it was smothered.
The first half was notably physical and combative. There were plenty of aggressive challenges and five cautions were issued.
The deadlock was broken by the home side in the 37th minute. Lenni Cirino won a corner, drawing a strong challenge as he dribbled into the box. The corner was taken by Little, who found Andy Smith at the back post. His header went into the top of the net.
Smith almost doubled his tally in the 45th minute. A corner from the other side by Max Clark found Smith in the box. His header was cleared off the line by a defender.
As the whistle blew for half time, Sam Gale was heading clear a potential Accrington attack, following some resolute defending by the home side.
The second half began in a fairly sedate way with neither side creating much in the opening ten minutes.
The first notable action of the second half was Gills skipper Armani Little going off injured in the 56th minute. He had some heavy strapping on his finger, which suggests he has either fractured or dislocated something.
But just after Little was subbed off for Jonny Williams, Gillingham doubled their lead.
The home side were recycling an attack to the left of the Accrington box. The ball was played in to Hale in the centre of the box, who held it up, then passed it out to McCleary who was lurking on the edge. He took the ball with his back to goal, turned and thundered it into the far corner, giving Ollie Wright no chance to save it.
Cirino had a chance to make it 3-0 from a tight angle, but his shot went just wide to the right of the post.
Gillingham keeper Glenn Morris was called into action soon after in a somewhat bizarre way. Remeao Hutton was attempting to defend a cross by heading the ball back into Morris’ gloves. However, his header was firm and misdirected towards goal, which drew a spectacular save from the veteran gloveman to turn it behind for a corner. The corner came to nothing.
Accrington had a chance to pull a goal back when Shaun Whalley’s free kick caught out Morris, wo was coming forward to claim it but couldn’t quite reach. He did well to get it away from the lurking substitute Devon Matthews.
Gillingham could have sealed the three points with the very next move as Cirino made a great run forward on the right flank, then drilled a cross across the face of the visitors’ goal with three Gills’ players waiting to turn it in. Somehow, Accrington got it behind for a corner which came to nothing.
Accrington had a player sent off for a dangerous challenge as Tyler Walton was judged to have gone in too high.
This gave Ainsworth the opportunity to give a debut to Louis Dayal as he came on for Lenni Cirino. Sam Vokes and Conor Masterson were also brought on for Hale and Smith, who received very warm applause from the crowd as they left the field.
With a numerical advantage, Gillingham were largely content with keeping possession and passing the ball among themselves. Palmer-Houlden had a fiery shot from range in the fourth minute of injury time, which was pushed behind for a corner that came to nothing.
Accrington substitute David Abimbola lasted little more than ten minutes on the pitch. He had already been involved in an altercation with Hutton and was finally dismissed for dangerous play on Sam Gale in the sixth minute of injury time.
The final whistle blew following an acrobatic interception from Nelson Khumbeni, who was lively and effective throughout the match.
While Gillingham have nothing to play for this season, the win and the performance were greatly appreciated by the home fans, who have endured several difficult games this year.
Hopefully this is a sign of better times in the new season.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Smith (Masterson 83), McCleary (Dack 61), Little (Williams 55), Palmer-Houlden, Khumbeni, Gale, Cirino (Dayal 83), Hale (Vokes 83).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Andrews.
Goals: Smith 37’, McCleary 56’
Booked: Hale 10’, Khumbeni 24’, McCleary 42’.
Accrington Stanley: Wright, Love, Sass, Rawson, Whalley, Sinclair, Martin (Madden 58), Walton (Butterfield 84), Conneely (Coyle 58’), O’Brien (Matthews 58), Woods (Abimbola 72).
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Brown.
Booked: Wright 13’, Woods 33’, Walton 75’ Madden 80’.
Sent Off: Walton (81), Abimbola (95).
Referee: Mr George Laflin.