They came; they saw; and they left a well beaten side as Gillingham produced their best performance yet under Steve Evans to shatter League leaders Wycombe Wanderers unbeaten start to the League season.
A second half double from Mikael Ndjoli tells only half the story as Gillingham finally defended a two-goal lead and won back to back home games for the first time since in six months!
There were stars all over the Priestfield pitch all in blue – skipper Max Ehmer and Connor Ogilvie combined the substantial threat that former Gills striker Adebayo Akinfenwa still possesses, whilst Mikael Mandron produced his best hour in a blue shirt as he demonstrated just why Evans was so keen to bring him to Priestfield.
Yet it was the withdrawal of Mandron just before the hour that turned the game as within two minutes, Gills had broken the deadlock thanks to a brilliant run and cross from sub Brandon Hanlan which Ndojli controlled brilliantly before making no mistake drilling into the roof of the leaders net.
Wycombe really knew it wasn’t their day 12 minutes later when the impressive Olly Lee was bundled over and referee Adcock immediately pointed to the spot despite the visitors howls of protest. Undeterred by the antics of keeper Ryan Allsop, Ndojli drove the ball beyond the keeper and into the net to seal an important three points for the home side.
The game began at a hundred miles an hour with both sides struggling to mount any decent chances with the final balls into both boxes failing to really impress and the chances that did come in the opening forty-five minutes being half chances.
Alex Samuel fired Wycombe’s first real chance wide, before Jack Bonham produced a smart save to deny Fred Onyedinma. The Gills then had their best chance just before the break when Mark Marshall’s free kick, fell to Ehmer whose shot was blocked behind for a corner.
The tightness of the first half was highlighted in stoppage time when it had appeared that Barry Fuller had released Mandron but for an incredibly late Assistants’ flag as the big number nine looked to be racing through on goal.
Early in the second half, Bonham saved well from Nick Freeman before the substitution that turned the game on 57 minutes. Mandron was applauded off for his efforts, yet within ninety seconds Hanlan was racing away leaving Anthony Stewart in his wake. His centre found Ndjoli, and the on loan Bournemouth striker did the rest firing the Gills ahead.
Yet the expected response from the leaders didn’t really materialise as Ehmer and Ogilvie stopped everything that was thrown at them and when they needed help, Fuller (who before the game received a memento from Gills Chairman Paul Scally to mark his 200th appearance for the club) and Tom O’Connor were on hand to keep the clean sheet intact.
The game was sealed nineteen minutes from time when Lee was felled in the box and Referee Adcock pointed straight to the spot and the on-loan Bournemouth striker duly sealed the points from twelve yards.
The Gills left the field to a fully deserved standing ovation from the Priestfield faithful who had waited a long time for a performance like this and left many asked just how much pace the Evans Revolution is gathering beyond their very eyes!
That said, three points are just three points at the start of a massive week for the club as after a tough trip to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday they welcome another unbeaten side Ipswich Town, who come to Kent on Saturday… All this and it’s only September!
GILLINGHAM – Jack Bonham, Max Ehmer, Connor Ogilvie, Mikael Mandron (Brandon Hanlon 57), Mikael Ndjoli (Stuart O’Keefe 90+2), Barry Fuller, Mark Byrne, Mark Marshall, Olly Lee (Ben Pringle 76), Tom O’Connor
Subs – Joe Walsh, Lee Hodson, Alex Jakubiak & Jack Tucker
WYCOMBE WANDERERS – Ryan Allsop, Joe Jacobson, Dominic Gape (David Wheeler 69), Anthony Stewart, Alex Pattison, Jack Grimmer (Giles Phillips 69), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Darrius Charles, Nick Freeman, Alex Samuel (Scott Kashket 28), Nnamdi Ofoborh
Subs – Cameron Yates, Jamie Mascoll, Curtis Thompson & Josh Parker
REFEREE – James Adcock
ASSISTANTS – Graham Kane & Geoffrey Russell
FOURTH OFFICIAL – Matthew Russell
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club