Gillingham took over top spot in League 2 after maintaining their winning start to the season at Priestfield.
It’s four wins from four in the league for the Gills at ME7 after Barrow – managed by old boss Stephen Clemence – were beaten 2-0 on Saturday.
Robbie McKenzie teed up Jayden Clarke for Gillingham’s opener in the first half and then converted from a corner to double the advantage after the break.
Walsall’s 4-0 victory in their early kick off on Saturday left them top of the division ahead of Gills’ game against Barrow. Top spot was up for grabs, however, for whoever won the match at Priestfield and it was the Gills celebrating once again at full-time.
Home boss Mark Bonner had made one change to his team from their last league match, Jack Nolan replacing Joe Gbode on the flank. On the subs bench there was a welcome return to Bradley Dack and Ethan Coleman – the latter back from suspension.
Nolan made a lively start to the game and forced the visiting keeper Wyll Stanway into a save.
Clarke – who scored twice late on in the last home league game at Priestfield – netted again with 17 minutes played and he had Robbie McKenzie to thank for providing a superb ball into his path.
McKenzie ran the ball out from defence and from the halfway mark threaded a ball through the Barrow defence, into Clarke’s path, and he picked his spot into the net.
Nolan tried his luck from distance with a low shot that went narrowly wide while at the other end Ged Garner cut in from the flank after the offside flag stayed down – to the surprise of many – and he fired an effort into the side netting.
George Lapslie came close to extending Gills’ lead on a couple of occasion, close to connecting onto one superb ball in from Nolan and smacking an angled shot just wide.
Barrow made a good start to the second half and it needed a good save from Glenn Morris to deny Dean Campbell.
The visitors came at Priestfield with good stats from set-pieces but good opportunities from outside the Gills box, either side of the half, were wasted as the wall did its job to keep them out.
Garner also missed a chance from Ben Jackson’s free-kick, which was delivered into the box, heading wide.
McKenzie doubled Gillingham’s advantage with 62 minutes played after meeting Nolan’s corner at the far post and getting enough on the ball to squeeze it home.
Ethan Coleman was denied a third by a great save from Stanway after he got on the end of a great ball into the box from fellow substitute Jonny Williams.
Dack made his entrance with 15 minutes left for his first league appearances since returning in the summer, introduced along with Joe Gbode as Bonner added fresh legs for the final stages of the game.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Ehmer, Ogie, Little, McKenzie (Coleman 64mins), Nolan (Dack 76mins), Clarke (Gbode 76mins), Lapslie (J Williams 64mins), Nevitt (Wyllie 82mins). Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Hawkins.
Barrow: Stanway, Eccleston, Foley, Jackson, Vassell, Feely (Kouyate 46mins), Stokes, Campbell, Acquah (Telford 63mins), Garner (Worrall 86mins), Newby (Popov 63mins). Subs not used: Daniels, Tiensia.
Referee: Neil Hair
Attendance: 7,166 (162 away)
