Gillingham recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season as Logan Dobbs and Ronan Hale scored second half goals to see off the challenge of Tranmere Rovers at a balmy MEMS Priestfield.
For Dobbs, the strike was extra special as it was the young man’s first league goal in Gillingham blue whilst for Hale, his goal was another built on extreme determination and perseverance.
Robbie McKenzie and Eli King both came into the starting eleven and from the off The Gills had the bit between their teeth with Nick Freeman first to test Rovers keeper Luke McGee, whilst at the other end, last weekend’s scoring hero James Brophy was on hand to clear off his own line to deny Dylan Jones.
Hale was denied by a brilliant tackle after Conor McManus and Harry Waldock had linked up well whilst Omar Beckles was close to opening the scoring with a header from a Brophy free kick which McGee kept out magnificently.
Jones and Sam Finlay had Rovers’ best chances of the half in the lead up to the break but couldn’t beat Ollie Wright, with the Gills keeper desperate for the clean sheet that has eluded him at Spotland seven days previously.
Garath McCleary was introduced early in the second period and was soon testing McGee with a curling effort before Hale had the keeper back-pedalling furiously with an effort that ended on the roof of the net.
With just over twenty minutes left, the goal that The Gills had been threatening finally arrived as Hale lofted the ball into the box and Dobbs angled his header beyond McGee to become the latest home-grown prodigy to net a debut Football League goal in front of an adoring Rainham End.
The lead was then doubled ten minutes from time when Hale latched onto a McCleary through ball and despite the attentions of defenders – attention that left the Irishman in a heap – he still managed to put the ball into the net to seal another good Gills performance and hopefully to sow the first seeds into making Priestfield the Fortress that the manager and the fans demand.
GILLINGHAM – Wright, Smith, Beckles, Dobbs (Daley 80), Freeman, McKenzie (Luxton 94), King, McManus (Kendall 94), Waldock (McCleary 55), Brophy, Hale (Sillah 82).
Subs not used – Holtam, Booth.
Goals: Dobbs (68), Hale (80).
Booked: McKenzie (26), King (35), McManus (86).
TRANMERE ROVERS – McGee, Senior, Slater (Kamara 79), Smith (Nevett 79), Vaulks, Whitaker (Okoro 70), Finley (Conlon 70), Ironside, Ince, Faulkner, Jones (Davies 58).
Subs not used – Male, O’Connor.
Booked: Smith (31), Vaulks (89).
REFEREE – Mr Alan Young.
Attendance: 5611 (349 Tranmere).
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.