A different response

Gills overcome second half setback and take their opportunity to secure a hard-earned win at Shrewsbury

Originally published in Gills Journal by David Tickner

It wasn’t always pretty and Shrewsbury enjoyed spells of possession and pressure, but Gillingham found something that had been missing in recent games – the ability to recover from a setback and grind out a win.

Saturday’s 2-1 victory owed something to good fortune particularly in the circumstances of Andy Smith’s spontaneous late winner. But it was not luck alone that brought three points back from Shropshire.

A week of hard truths and an early reward

The previous weekend’s confidence-draining 4-1 home defeat to Grimsby, which extended Gillingham’s winless league run to three games, had prompted Gareth Ainsworth to question whether some of his players could meet the demands of League Two. After a challenging week of video reviews, reflection and uncomfortable conversations, Ainsworth’s players demonstrated the resolve their manager had demanded and arrived at the New Meadow with renewed determination.

‘I told the boys last week and I said it in the press, that’s not good enough. We can raise our standards, but I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t believe in them like I do. I want to look at myself and say I can get better as well. So, we worked hard this week,’ Ainsworth reflected.

Smith acknowledged that the manager’s approach helped to rebuild confidence after Grimsby. ‘It was a tough week in terms of the gaffer had some harsh truths to say, but (he) doesn’t allow moping around after a bad result.’

Ainsworth made four changes to his starting eleven. Youngsters Logan Dobbs and Harry Waldock returned, as did Lamin Sillah, with his right wrist still strapped up, along with Ethan Coleman playing at the base of midfield. Jack Daley, Armani Little and Garath McCleary dropped to the bench whilst Robbie McKenzie sat out.

The changes brought an immediate return. The game could hardly have started better when Waldock turned Conor McManus’ low cross past Shrewsbury goalkeeper, Will Brook, to give Gillingham the lead after just three minutes. It was Waldock’s first senior goal and a fitting finish to a neat left-sided passing move that had involved Ronan Hale, James Brophy and Sillah in its build-up.

There were further opportunities for Hale to extend the lead before half time. Brook twice denied him with good saves. But it was far from one-way traffic. Shrewsbury enjoyed more than their share of possession and created chances of their own that called on Ollie Wright and the Gills’ defence to protect the narrow advantage.

Familiar problem, different response

After the break, the hosts made the pressure tell, Tom Sang’s skill in the penalty drew a foul from Brophy and George Lloyd converted from the spot in the 59th minute. Encouraged by their equaliser, Shrewsbury started to exert greater midfield control and apply further pressure on the Gillingham defence.

It felt all too familiar. It was the sixth second half goal that Gillingham had conceded between the 54th and 70th minutes in four games. For a period, the Gills’ ability to stay in the game looked precarious. But, on this occasion, they didn’t capitulate. They dug in and Ainsworth’s substitutions allowed them to regain some midfield control and ease the pressure a little.

Tom Eaves replaced Sillah in the 65th minute. His experience and ability to hold up the ball offered an outlet and started to ease the pressure on a midfield that was shored up further by the experience of Bradley Dack and Armani Little when they were introduced on 72 minutes.

Giddy heights

In the 80th minute, Dack’s attempted shot from the edge of the box was deflected onto the crossbar. The rebound fell unexpectedly to Smith in the six-yard box who poked it home with equal measures of delight and surprise. ‘I don’t know what I was doing up there, to be honest. I think I decided to get giddy and join in. Fortunately, I was in the right place at the right time,’ he reflected after the game. It was Smith’s first goal since April and his second for the Gills.

Ainsworth shared Smith’s amusement wondering what his central defender was doing three yards from the opposition goal at that stage of the game. However, there was also concern amid the celebrations. Nick Freeman, who had put in another very solid performance, appeared to roll his ankle in the build-up to the goal and was immediately replaced by Garath McCleary.

It was perhaps fitting that Gillingham’s winning goal came from a centre back in a victory that ultimately owed more to character and determination than it did to flair and flowing football. Smith admitted, ‘It wasn’t our best performance in terms of playing football. It was a real team performance, lads throwing themselves in front of the ball at the end. It was brilliant.’

Ainsworth paid tribute to the ‘scrapping mentality’ of his players and coaches. It was epitomised in the closing stages by McManus whom Ainsworth said had ‘cramped virtually every muscle in his body’. In obvious discomfort and with no further substitutions available to Gillingham after the enforced replacement of the injured Freeman, the Republic of Ireland Under 21 international made several important tackles and blocks in stoppage time.

Gillingham’s next focus is the FA Cup and a tricky first round tie at Priestfield next weekend against National League Barrow. Despite Ainsworth’s designs on a cup run, the victory at Shrewsbury provides a little renewed belief and relief ahead of a return to league action at Colchester the following weekend. One hard-earned win does not erase the concerns of recent games. But Gillingham encountered a familiar setback on Saturday and, this time, found a different response.

David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack.