Josh Andrews chose the perfect day to score in first goal in the blue of Gillingham as the play-off dream stayed alive on another bizarre day in League Two. 

The Gills did their bit against ten-man Barrow at a sun drenched Priestfield as goals from Andrews, a low shot after a super ball from Romeao Hutton. An own goal from Barrow defender Rory Feeley followed by Connor Mahoney’s seventh goal of the season.

With the other three teams who along with Barrow started the day in the play-off places all losing, Stephen Clemence’s side are now just two points off the coveted seventh spot, what a difference a week makes after all the doom and gloom that followed defeat at Bradford seven days ago! 

Clemence made three changes from the trip to Yorkshire with Max Clark and Jonny Williams starting along with Andrews, and it was the big forward who was in the action from the off as an early header was gathered by Barrow keeper Paul Farman. 

In an entertaining start, Dean Campbell had a shot that Jake Turner saved comfortably whilst Farman made a good save to deny Jonny Williams advancing from his goal line at speed. 

George Lapslie was replaced by Josh Walker at the half’s midway point through injury, only for the subs afternoon to be ended moments later by a horrible challenge from defender George Ray, who was rightly and correctly sent off whilst the unlucky Walker left the field on a stretcher to be replaced by Oli Hawkins. 

The half was extended because of Walker’s injury and in stoppage time, the Gills struck, Hutton played a great ball into Andrews who beat the offside trap and rounded Farman to open his Gillingham account.  

Buoyed by the strike just before the break, the home side started the second half on the front foot and Farman was alert to keep out Clarks effort from a very acute angle. 

The lead was doubled ten minutes into half though as Mahoney’s driven ball across the face of goal was turned into his own net by Feeley as Gillingham tightened their grip on the game, a grip that became a strangle hold on 65 minutes when Mahoney struck with the goal of the game.  

Tim Dieng was the architect with a great ball over the top of the stretched Barrow backline which Mahoney controlled in a flash before rounding the hopelessly exposed Farman as netted goal number seven of the season. 

Hawkins was denied a late fourth as he powered a header from a Hutton cross beyond Farman only for a defender to scramble the ball off the line. 

Barrows own play-off hopes weren’t damaged too much by this hammering as amazingly MK Dons, Crewe, and Crawley all also lost meaning that Clemence’s side still have hope being two points off the play-off places with two games left in what has become one of the most bizarre seasons in living memory. 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, Hutton, Ehmer, Masterson, Max Clark (Malone), Coleman, Dieng (McKenzie), Mahoney, Lapslie (Walker)(Hawkins), Jonny Williams, Andrews (Jefferies) 

Subs – Morris, Ogie  

BARROW – Farman, Feely, Ray, Canavan, Chester, Foley, Campbell (Stephenson), Gotts (Spence), Newby, Acquah (Proctor), Whitfield 

Subs – Lillis, Telford, Stockton  

REFEREE – Mr Whitestone 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC