Aldershot 1 Gillingham 2
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Frank Nouble scores the opening goal for
Gillingham at Aldershot Picture: Barry Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham claimed much-needed joy on away soil with victory at
Aldershot in League 2 on Saturday.
The Gills held a 2-0 lead at the break, thanks to goals from
Frank Nouble and Chris Whelpdale, but their advantage was halved
with 10 minutes left as Scott Davies struck for the hosts.
A determined second-half effort saw the visitors hang on to make
it two league wins on the spin.
The Gills had opened the scoring in the seventh minute when
Nouble converted Danny Jackman’s corner.
Jackman took a number of corner kicks in the first half and
every one of them caused problems for the home side. On two
occasions the ball fell to Matt Lawrence, but both efforts were
cleared off the line by Aldershot.
The hosts did come close to scoring from a set piece themselves,
with a free-kick on the edge of the box that Luke Guttridge looked
to have smashed into the top corner, before Ross Flitney turned the
effort over the bar.
End-to-end action saw Shots keeper Jamie Young make an even
better save to deny Danny Kedwell and the Gills midway through the
half. The striker was thwarted moments later when Aaron Brown
cleared the ball from under his own bar.
The second came on 36 minutes and it was Whelpdale with the
goal, striking from 25 yards, with an effort that keeper Young
flapped at and watched as it nestled low into the goal.
It was Whelpdale’s fourth goal of the season with his other
three coming in away wins at Crewe, Hereford and Torquay.
Aldershot, as expected, put on the pressure at the start of the
second half and Darren Jones had a free header from Alex Rodman’s
free-kick that went straight to Flitney. The Gills defence needed
full concentration to keep the hosts at bay.
Andy Hessenthaler’s men broke out of defence on the hour and
Jackman came close to making it 3-0 but his low shot fizzed just
wide of Young’s post. Whelpdale almost scored another
himself 10 minutes later, with a volley that went narrowly
over the bar.
At the other end Aldershot were running out of ideas and
defender Jones tried his luck from distance but dragged the effort
well wide.
With 10 minutes left, the Gills just had to hang on
but a great strike from substitute Davies gave the hosts renewed
hope as it flew in past Flitney from 25 yards. At 2-1 it was going
to be a tense finish.
The Gills had to play four minutes of stoppage time, during
which headers from Brown and Collins sailed wide, but
the referee brought the game to an end spelling delight
for the 669 travelling fans.
Gillingham: Flitney, Martin, Lee, Lawrence,
Richards, J Payne, Jackman (Weston 87mins), Whelpdale, Kedwell,
Nouble (Montrose 84mins), Kuffour. Subs not used: King, Oli,
Gazzaniga.
Aldershot: Young, Herd, Straker, Jones, Brown,
Guttridge, McGlashan (Mekki 84mins), Rankine, Hylton, Rodman
(Davies 66mins), Vincenti (Collins 54mins). Subs not used: Morris,
Day.
Attendance: 3,249
How important was it for Gills to record back-to-back
league wins? Have your say below.
Saturday, November 19 2011
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