Gillingham boosted their hopes of keeping clear of relegation trouble with a surprise win over promotion-chasing Bradford City.
Conor Masterson was back in the Gills side for the first time this year and the fit-again defender opened the scoring at Priestfield. His goal was enough to win it, earning manager John Coleman his second win in successive weekends at Priestfield.
Bradford knew before the match that victory would take them top of League 2 – the Gills were keen for points to keep some distance between themselves and the bottom two.
There was contrasting pre-match form with the Gills enjoying just one win since Christmas. Bradford had only lose once since the Xmas festivities.
Form went out of the window as the Gills denied Bradford the opportunity to climb above Walsall at the top of the table.
Club captain Max Ehmer and striker Elliott Nevitt were dropped to the bench. Three others were left out, with Bradley Dack, Jack Nolan and top scorer Jayden Clarke all in the stands. All three had been left on the bench unused in the midweek loss at Newport.
Manager John Coleman went with Oli Hawkins as the focal point in attack while Masterson replaced Ehmer at the back.
Jonny Williams and Peterborough loan striker Jacob Wakeling came in from the cold. Liverpool loanee Dom Corness was also recalled to the squad.
George Lapslie was in the thick of the action early on against his former team, on the end of a firm but fair challenge from Robbie McKenzie before Masterson picked up a harsh yellow for a foul on the edge of the box.
Referee James Durkin had set the bar low for cautions and within the opening 20 minutes he’d also booked Armani Little and Jimmy-Jay Morgan. With a high red-card record to his name, the Gills players were living dangerously.
Gillingham got into some good positions during the half but their balls into the box lacked the quality needed to unlock the Bradford defence.
Neither goalkeeper was overly tested during the opening 45 minutes.
Sam Gale’s long-range effort was Gillingham’s only on target effort of the first 45, comfortably gathered by keeper Sam Walker.
Home goalie Glenn Morris had denied Tommy Leigh after he chased a throughball from Jamie Walker. Gills defender Max Clark was also well placed to deny Lapslie when he tried to hook the ball home after the ball was headed into the danger zone from a corner.
The Gills were questioning the referee’s judgement shortly after the restart when a heavy and high challenge on McKenzie went unpunished
Visiting forward Leigh went close with an ambitious effort as he tried to lob Morris but found the top of the net.
Joe Gbode was looking to get at the away defence with positive running and it was a run from him that led to a corner which Gillingham opened the scoring from after 56 minutes.
Clark whipped the ball in and when it dropped in the box Masterson was there to squeeze the ball home.
The Gills had the lead and the goal gave them confidence to push for a second, looking the better of the teams with the score at 1-0.
Often criticised for sitting on a one-goal lead, the Gills were determined to keep the pressure up this time around.
Coleman was as animated as he’d been since taking the job, on the sidelines urging his side on with a plaster on his forehead following a blow to the head from the football in the first half.
The excellent Gbode had a chance to score the second but Walker saved well from the energetic forward.
Nelson Khumbeni fired wide for the Gills with a couple of minutes left.
There were seven minutes added on at the end of normal time, meaning a tense finish for the Gills. Determined defending kept Bradford at bay.
League 2 table
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Gale, Masterson (Ehmer 85mins), Smith, Little, McKenzie (J Williams 85mins), Morgan (Khumbeni 69mins), Gbode, Hawkins (Nevitt 63mins). Subs not used: Turner, Ehmer, Wakeling, Corness.
Bradford: S Walker, Shepherd, Baldwin, Huntington, Halliday (Johnson 86mins), Adaramola, Smallwood, Khela (Byrne 60mins), Lapslie (Wright 72mins), J Walker (Kavanagh 72mins), Leigh (Mellon 60mins). Subs not used: Hilton,Crichlow.
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance: 6,297 (845 away)
