Gillingham 0-2 TOWN - Town at the double to take all three points

Goals in either half from Matty Daly and Alex Pattison saw Town cruise to a 2-0 win away to Gillingham.

The win, Town’s first on the road this season, was thoroughly deserved and there could have been no complaints had Simon Weaver’s side come away with an even bigger winning margin.

Town made two changes from the side that drew 0-0 at home to Crawley at the weekend. Pete Jameson missed out which saw a return to the starting eleven for Mark Oxley, with youngster Harvey Giles names on the bench.

Kyle Ferguson also came back into the side, replacing Warren Burrell who dropped to the bench whilst the hosts handed a debut to Hakeeb Adelakun after his arrival from Lincoln in a season long loan deal

The hosts made the early running in the opening ten minutes but Town found their stride and carved out the better opportunities.

Jaheim Headley strode to the edge of the Gills area before striking a left-footed effort that was turned wide by veteran Glenn Morris.

Alex Pattison then forced a corner, which resulted in Joe Mattock curling a nice effort narrowly wide of the far post.

Oxley then proved his worth after Jordan Green nipped in behind the Town defence, with the Town keeper spreading himself to narrow the angle and thwart the danger.

Pattison was again involved soon after when he found himself in plenty of space at the far post but he failed to keep his shot on target when he could have handed Town a deserved lead.

They didn’t have to wait too long to get their noses in front, and it was Pattison again the key man. This time the skipper for the night turned provider as he burst down the left to square for Daly to poke home at the near post.

Pattison then went into the book for a late tackle, although this looked to be fairly innocuous. The Town play, particularly their easy on the eye passing game, was causing plenty of frustration amongst the home support who had seen their side struggle to get a foothold into the game.

And Town should really have doubled their lead with five minutes to go before half-time. Pattison was again the central figure as he was played clean through but struck his effort too close to Morris who saved comfortably.

With Town’s penalty box largely unchartered territory for the home attack Elkan Baggott was perhaps surprise to find himself with space on the stroke oh half-time, with his headed effort well over Oxley’s bar.

Debutant Adelakun was booked in injury time for hauling back Stephen Dooley with the Town midfielder looking to break forward.

Baggott again found space in the Town box shortly after the break but once again failed to find the target.
Kayne Ramsay then teased across just out of reach of Luke Armstrong following initial smart work down the left from Joe Mattock.

Ramsay then had a gilt-edged opportunity to double Town’s lead but he flashed wide from the six-yard box.
Simon Weaver must have been scratching his head soon after when Morris pulled off a marvellous double-save first from Headley, then Dooley, both with his feet as he kept his sides hopes alive.

A pair of changes for either side saw Dooley replaced by Thomson and O’Keefe replace Kashket.

Mandron had a half chance for the hosts when he created space on the right-hand side but his effort lacked power and Oxley comfortably dealt with his effort.

With home frustrations growing both Baggot and Ben Reeves found their way into the book for late challenges – both a sign that the game was slipping away for the Gills.

After another sound display Mattock was replaced by Lewis Richards with twenty minutes remaining.

The one dangerman in the home ranks was Green and he ploughed through the Town defence to cause a flash of worry but stumbled at an inopportune time and dragged his shot tamely wide.

Jack Muldoon replaced goalscorer Daly with just over ten minutes remaining and his endeavour saw him chase down a defender to eat up vital seconds on the clock.

Was there a worry that Town could let the lead slip from their grasp? Mandron almost ensured this was the case but he headed over with the goal at his mercy after Oxley had been crowded.

Pattison then sealed all three points on 86 minutes when he hit home off the post.

Victory saw Town progress to seven points from four games, was their third clean sheet in four and moved them into the top half of the table ahead of a weekend trip to Barrow.

Gillingham: Morris, Wright (Alexander, 66), Ehmer, Baggott, Law (Walker, 82) Lee, O’Keefe (Kashket, 66) Green, Reeves, Adelakun (MacDonald, 74), Mandron.

Subs not used: Turner, Tutonda, Macarthur.

Booked: Adelakun (44), Baggott (69), Reeves (70).

TOWN: Oxley, Welch-Hayes, Ferguson, Mattock (Richards,73), Ramsay, Headley, Austerfield, Dooley (Thomson, 65), Pattison, Daly (Muldoon, 79), Armstrong.

Subs not used: Oxley, Burrell, Frost, Ilesanmi

Goals: Daly (26), Pattison (86)

Booked: Pattison (32)

Attendance: 3,931.