A brace from new signing Ronan Hale secured the points for Gillingham in a tense match at MEMS Priestfield.
Gillingham were frustrated midweek by a strong Notts County side and desperately needed a win against Tranmere, who had lost their last five fixtures.
Gareth Ainsworth made four changes from the side who lost 1-0 away at Notts County on Tuesday. Remeao Hutton, Garath McCleary, Bradley Dack and Sam Vokes came in for Sam Gale, Robbie McKenzie, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Josh Andrews, all of whom dropped to the bench.
Tranmere had a very productive January transfer window, bringing in seven new players including a new starting goalkeeper on a one-week loan. Manager Andy Crosby made seven changes to the 11 who lost 2-0 at home to Salford last Saturday. Only Nathan Smith, Patrick Brough, Sam Finley, Charlie Whitaker remained in the starting lineup, while Kristian Dennis Cameron Norman and Nohan Kenneh dropped to the bench.
Gillingham had the first good chance of the first half. After an excellent ball from Dack found Vokes in space, the ball was laid off to McCleary, who had a stinging shot saved from a tight angle. The loose ball fell to Ethan Coleman, who fired in from distance, but also had his shot saved.
McCleary had two more opportunities blocked a minute later as Gillingham found some rhythm, against a much-changed and short of confidence Tranmere.
The Gills continued to pile on the pressure in the opening 20 minutes with several promising attacks and an audacious chip from Vokes that went just over the bar.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when, after a corner, Armani Little picked up possession on the edge of the box then chipped a pass forward to an unmarked Ronan Hale, who fired it into the bottom corner for his first goal for the club.
After the goal, Tranmere began to attack with more purpose. They had a couple of shots blocked and captain Sam Finley went very close with a powerful daisy-cutter that had Glenn Morris beaten but fizzed just wide.
The visitors then had their best chance of the half. Some nimble footwork from Omari Patrick threaded the ball through to Charlie Whitaker, who put in a great cross for Joe Ironside at the far post, but he mis-timed his run and couldn’t reach the ball for a tap-in.
Gillingham were very close to making it 2-0 in the last act of the first half. Dack found Vokes to the left of the Tranmere goal, who played a cross that almost crept in at the far post.
The second half began with Tranmere as the aggressors. Gillingham keeper Morris was called into action to save a shot low to his right from Zech Obiero. Stephen Negru’s header from the resulting corner went just wide.
Gillingham soon found their rhythm again as Hale beat two defenders on the edge of the box before he squared the ball to McCleary, whose shot went just past the post and into the Rainham End.
The game continued to be end-to-end as both teams sensed the precarious nature of the 1-0 scoreline. Both sets of fans were in full voice, encouraged by the attacking football on show and desperate for their side to take the initiative.
Gillingham took the initiative when Max Clasrk’s corner-kick was whipped across the six-yard box, finding Hale who headed into the roof of the net.
Centre-back Travis Akomeah had an excellent chance to put the game to bed, but he couldn’t quite control Little’s cross to him at the far post.
The game was put back into jeopardy as Tranmere’s Charlie Whitaker picked up a squared pass from substitute Max Dickov following a free kick. He struck an excellent, curling shot from outside the box that curled past Glenn Morris’ outstretched hands into the bottom-left corner.
Priestfield prepared itself for another tight finish that had become a feature of this season.
Tranmere looked dangerous, moving the ball with energy and purpose as they attacked the Gillingham half. They created chances and looked the more likely of the sides to score next.
The home side defended deep with numbers behind the ball, regularly clearing their lines but struggling to hold onto possession against a fired-up Tranmere.
The six minutes of injury time ticked by slowly and agonisingly for the home fans as Gillingham continued to get behind the ball, block shots and clear their lines while Tranmere desperately searched for an equaliser.
Two corners in quick succession were Tranmere’s last hope of securing a draw, but somehow the danger was cleared and the final whistle blew to release the tension of the final 15 minutes.
The win was crucial for Gillingham as, with Walsall’s loss against Barnet, the gap between them and the playoffs is reduced to eight points. With 17 matches left to play this season, there is still hope for the Gills, who can still consider themselves playoff-contenders. Just about.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Coleman, McCleary (Gale ’63), Little, Akomeah, Vokes (Andrews ’63), Dack (McKenzie ’63), Hale (Palmer-Houlden ’80), Beckles.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Smith, Antwi
Goals: Hale ’25, ‘65
Booked:
Tranmere Rovers: Marosi, Brough, Smith, Whitaker, Finley, Patrick, Warrington, Plant (Norman ’71), Negru (Lowe ’81), Ironside (Dennis ’74), Obiero (Dickov ’72).
Subs Not Used: Barrett, McGowan, Kenneh
Goals: Whitaker ‘78
Booked:
HT 1 – 0 FT 2 – 1
Att: 5564 (224)
Referee: Mr Craig Hicks
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.