Chesterfield 0 Gillingham 1
Cody McDonald is congratulated by Deon Burton
after he scored Gillingham's winning goal at
Chesterfield. Picture:
Barry Goodwin.
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham made history at
Chesterfield on Saturday as they tasted victory on the road
again.
Cody McDonald headed the Gills in front early in the second
half and that goal proved enough to seal the points.
It was the Gills' 11th away win of the
season and they extended their run without conceding a goal on
their travels to 471 minutes.
The Gills' previous best winning tally away
from Priestfield was 10 away victories in the 1984/85 season
under Keith Peacock.
Boss Martin Allen made just one change to
the team that started last weekend’s home game against Dagenham
with Andy Frampton (concussion) replaced in midfield by Steven
Gregory.
Gregory’s promotion from the bench left a
space in the squad which was filled by Callum Davies.
Gillingham had not conceded an away goal
since December 8, at Rotherham, and they went into the game
two points clear at the top of League 2.
Chesterfield had several chances in the
opening half, but Gills keeper Stuart Nelson had nothing to save in
the first 45 minutes.
Instead, the best of the opening
opportunities fell to the Gills, with Chris Whelpdale forcing a
save from Tommy Lee, while McDonald was unlucky after running on to
Steven Gregory’s ball over the defence and seeing the resulting
shot deflected wide.
The Gills had been forced into an early
reshuffle when Matt Fish went off injured. Whelpdale dropped
to right-back, while Deon Burton came on to join McDonald
upfront.
With just five minutes of the second half
played the Gills went ahead as Myles Weson’s inswinging corner was
headed home by McDonald – his fourth goal since rejoining the
club.
Chesterfield came as close as they had been
all match just before the hour when Whelpdale cleared a Neal
Trotman header off the line. Conor Townsend fired over moments
later as the hosts looked to get back on level terms.
McDonald left the field to be replaced by
Davies after he picked up a knock. It left the Gills with two banks
of four to defend Nelson’s goal, with Burton and Weston providing
an attacking outlet for the last 30 minutes.
Chesterfield’s aim didn't get much better
as Liam Cooper attempted a shot from distance but it drifted well
wide. At the other end, Leon Legge had a header cleared off the
line shortly after he had made a great block to deny Jack Lester
for the hosts.
Lester went close again, with a shot
on the slide, that Nelson had to be alert to save while both Anton
Robinson for the Gills and Lester for the hosts had the ball in the
net in the final minute, but both efforts were ruled out for
offside as Gillingham hung on for seven minutes of injury time
to claim yet another away win.
Gillingham: Nelson, Fish (Burton 28mins),
Martin, Legge, Barrett, Gregory, Whelpdale, Robinson, Lee, McDonald
(Davies 59mins), Weston. Subs not used: Forecast, Richardson, Dack,
Williams, Birchall.
Chesterfield: Lee, Brindley, Trotman (Clark
81mins), Cooper, Smith, Togwell, Clay (Lester 53mins) Talbot,
O'Shea (Henshall 53mins), Townsend, Richards. Subs not used:
Barrington, Randall, Whitaker, Hazel.
Attendance: 5,235.
23/02/13
- Click here for more news from across the county...