Gillingham maintained their hopes of reaching the playoffs with a crucial home win over Barrow on Saturday.
The match saw Josh Andrews give the Gills the lead just before halftime, with Barrow reduced to ten men following George Ray’s challenge on Josh Walker, resulting in Walker being carried off the field due to the severity of the incident.
The second half saw Gillingham extend their lead with an own goal in the 55th minute, followed by Connor Mahoney scoring the third goal.
Despite Gillingham’s slim chances of making the playoffs before the game, their coach remained optimistic as long as there was a mathematical possibility.
The victory puts Gillingham two points away from the playoff positions with two games left, especially after seventh-placed Crawley lost to Colchester, who are fighting relegation.
Manager Stephen Clemence opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against a Barrow side that started the day in sixth place. Josh Andrews made his first start for Gillingham, leading the attack.
However, pre-match plans were disrupted as George Lapslie was forced off early due to injury, and Walker replaced him, only to suffer an injury from Ray’s challenge, resulting in Ray’s red card.
The Gills faced a resilient Barrow despite being down to ten men but managed to break the deadlock just before halftime through Andrews’ well-taken goal.
The second half saw Gillingham dominate, with Masterson’s ball leading to an own goal by Barrow’s Rory Feely and Mahoney adding a third with a superb finish.
Gillingham pressed for more goals, with Hawkins coming close, but Barrow defended resolutely to prevent further damage.
Overall, it was a convincing performance by Gillingham, with goalkeeper Jake Turner rarely tested, ensuring a comfortable victory in front of the home crowd at Priestfield Stadium.
