Gillingham midfielder Jonny Williams hopes last weekend’s four-goal opening-day salvo was the start of things to come.
Williams failed to find the net throughout the whole of last season – he got 10 the year before at Swindon – but struck a sweet fourth for the Gills in their 4-1 home win over much-fancied Carlisle United.
The Gills have struggled to score and entertain in the last three years, scoring just 35 goals when they were relegated from League 1 in 2022.
They managed just one more goal than that on their return to League 2 and then netted just 46 times last season when only bottom side Forest Green scored less.
However, Gillingham’s opening game of 2024/25 suggests fans could be in for better times ahead.
Williams said: “We didn’t score four last year and it was great to start the season with four goals at home, scoring at both ends of the pitch, something we struggled with last season.
“It was a long break from the Doncaster game (at the end of the previous campaign) a lot of mixed emotions from last season.
“All we could do was work hard over the summer. The boys look fit and strong and hungry to do something. We scored four goals, it’s just three points, and we have to back that up now this week.
“We are working really hard to be a more attacking team this year and one that fans will want to come and watch and be entertained.
“If we can score four at home every week it will be quite busy! We want to build on it. We are not going to score four every week but we want to have more opportunities, more box entries, more crosses, more shots, take more risks and you never know.
“We want to be exciting to watch, we want to attack and score goals. There will be some games that are tight where we have to grind it out but I was so pleased we didn’t sit off when we went 1-0 up, we built and went to score two, three or four and on another day you get five.
“That’s a real positive because it is great to play in and great to watch.”
Last season’s mid-table finish came after much hope. There’s the same kind of expectation on the team’s shoulders this time around.
Williams said: “I felt like we had a team capable of doing it last year but we weren’t consistent enough and hopefully we can be this year.
“We have a great group of boys, some real characters and we have all bonded really well.
“You want to be able to enjoy coming in every day and work hard when the time is right but also enjoy being in each other’s company and it has been great. I think we have that blend here.
“The new lads have offered that hunger and desire and pace, energy, they have slotted in really well.”
Getting on the scoresheet was a real plus for Williams, having come off the bench. Manager Mark Bonner had gone for a more physical presence in the no.10 role, picking Tim Dieng from the off as the chief support for striker Jacob Wakeling.
“It really clicked,” said the former Welsh international.
“There is definitely room for improvement but to win at home 4-1 was an amazing day for us as a team and great to get off to a win and a goal.
“I was very pleased to score, over the moon. One of the things I have wanted to work on is getting into goal scoring positions and also having the confidence to go yourself and take the responsibility, take the strike and go for goal. I did that and it paid off.
“Confidence is massive in footballers and there are times when you don’t hit the net and you wonder when you will score. You have to be mentally strong and believe that when the chances do come you take them. Hopefully I can score a few more because I am desperate to do well and contribute.”
Williams was also glad to be able to celebrate in front of his no.1 fan.
He said: “My dad travels home and away, he has seen a lot of games where I haven’t scored and he still believes in me. It was great to see him in the crowd supporting me, it meant a lot.
“My dad follows me everywhere, home and away, whether I am on the bench, in the stands, he has been all over with Wales games and stuff. It is lovely. He came to every game last year and it was nice to see how happy it made him as well.”
Gillingham travel to Morecambe in League 2 this Saturday.
