On the thirty-nineth anniversary of their record ever League win, Gillingham more than doubled their goals for total for the season in a tremendous ninety minutes at Spotland as newly promoted Rochdale were put to the sword. 

First goals in Gillingham colours for James Brophy, with two absolute screamers, Omar Beckles and Lamin Sillah finally saw Gareth Ainsworth’s side win their first game at their sixth attempt this season and rocket up the fledgling League Two table, 

As good as the win was, Gills were indebted to keeper Ollie Wright for keeping the scoreline blank early on by keeping out Mani Dieseruvwe’s curling effort. 

Zech Obiero’s debut only lasted eighteen minutes as he was forced off with injury at the same time as Will Goodwin left through injury as well – the pair were replaced by Eli King and Sillah. 

The Gills though were not to be denied and within ten minutes of the double change Brophy stepped up and scored an absolute worldie for his first goal for the club – collecting the ball from Nick Freeman, Brophy curled a magnificent effort past Nils Ramming in the home goal who to be fair would not have saved the effort if there had been two of him between the sticks; the strike was that good! 

Ronan Hale and Brophy again went close before the break to doubling the lead, but the Gills had to wait until ten minutes into the second half to deservedly go 2-0 up. Brophy this time the provider with a wicked ball into the box that Beckles thumped into the back of the net. 

Two soon became three and the 388 who made the long trip were in dream land! Andy Smith got on the end of a sensational ball from King and Sillah reacted quickest to steer home his first Gills goal with a great header. 

Rochdale’s afternoon took another crash as Francis got a second yellow on the hour and the home side were down to ten men for the last half hour. 

If Brophy’s first goal had been special, the second was sensational. Picking the ball up wide on the left, he went on a run, beating player after player until there was only the keeper to beat and as cool as you like, he slipped the ball under a bewildered Ramming from close range. 

The Gills were rampant and could have had more – Hale went close twice firstly curling a shot fractionally wide and then racing onto Harry Waldock’s brilliant ball, but the Irishman missed the post by a whisker! 

Charlie Tasker did pull a very late goal back for the home side with a header that looped in, but it was far too little far too late and the points were Gillingham’s. 

The Gills then head home after scoring four on the road for the first time since December 2020 when they won at… Rochdale by a 4-1 scoreline! Anyone for a chorus of “can we play you every week?” as the Gills head home to Priestfield to face back-to-back games against two of the current top four – the Rovers of Tranmere and Bristol. 

ROCHDALE – Ramming, Tasker, Wilson, Dieseruvwe (Henderson), Silcott-Duberry (Gilmour), Francis, Adeeko, Hannant (Smith), Taylor, Moss, Brown (Middleton) 

Subs – Waller, Adebayo-Rowling, Sherring  

GILLINGHAM – Wright, Smith, Beckles, Dobbs (Daley), Freeman, Waldock (Kendall), Obiero (King), McManus (McKenzie), Brophy, Hale, Goodwin (Sillah) 

Subs – Holtam, McCleary 

REFEREE – Mr Robinson

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC