A Friday night to remember on the banks of the River Trent for Gillingham as they came from behind to earn a valuable 3-1 win at play-off rivals Notts County.
After Dan Crowley had given the home side an early lead, Oli Hawkins, Max Clark, and Conor Masterson turned the game on its head as Stephen Clemence’s side not only secured three more points but the side who cannot score goals also scored three in a League game for the first time this season.
The Head Coach made three changes from the side held by Walsall as Tim Dieng, Clark and Jonny Williams returned to the starting line-up, Williams returning to the city he started his career across the river at the City Ground.
The home side went ahead just before the quarter hour as Crowley beat Jake Turner for his tenth goal of the season low into the corner after being found by Jodi Jones.
But the travelling faithful who numbered nearly 1,000 need not have worried as within five minutes, Hawkins, who was superb throughout, levelled with a terrific header after Masterson had returned a cross back into the box.
David McGoldrick and Scott Robertson had chances to put the home side back in front but eight minutes from the break, it was the Gills who hit the front. Josh Walker showed why Clemence wanted to sign him with some super play and a super touch that found Clark, the left wing back let fly into the top corner of the home net for his first goal in blue or for the night, pink!
And it was Gillingham who continued after the break and Dieng was unlucky with a blocked shot. It only though delayed the unrivalled joy of the travelling support as on fifty-three minutes Masterson became the Clubs top scorer as he headed home Shad Ogie’s header from a corner.
County are one of the top scorers in the division, but skipper Max Ehmer alongside the “youngsters” of Masterson and Ogie are beginning to become a real defensive unit with Turner behind them and it was only in the closing stages that the Gills goal was threatened.
Macauley Langstaff had an effort saved by Turner and McGoldrick missed the target when well placed, but literally the Gills were an inch away from making it four-one with an amazing opportunity in the final minute.
Romeao Hutton’s free-kick was met by a flying Dieng only for his header to beat keeper Stone hit the inside of one post roll along the goal-line striking the other post before being hacked away.
Gillingham seal their third away win out of four since the turn of the year whilst for County it is now five without a win as the Gills claim seventh place from their hosts ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.
A great night on the banks of the River Trent for those in pink on this Friday night, next up the old enemy come calling as Swindon Town come to Priestfield on Tuesday night.
NOTTS COUNTY – Stone, Brindley, Baldwin, Cameron, Nemane, Crowley, Bostock (Austin), Robertson (O’Brien), Jones, McGoldrick, Langstaff
Subs – Ashy-Hammond, Rawlinson, Macari, Mahavo, Morias
GILLINGHAM – Turner, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie, Max Clark, Dieng, Coleman, Jonny Williams (McKenzie), Williams (Lapslie), Hawkins (Hurtado)
Subs – Morris, Malone, Mahoney, Nadesan
REFEREE – Mr Oldham