Gillingham’s winning streak in League Two came to an abrupt end on Saturday against an impressive York City.
Joe Grey struck early, and the hosts twice hit the woodwork in a torrid first half for the Gills, who lost two players to injury. Zane Albarus’s 71st-minute red card added to the woes before Jovan Malcolm and Ollie Pearce sealed a 3-0 win for York with late goals.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth.Gillingham (blue) versus Walsall.EFL League Two.Gillingham FC, Priestfield stadium, Gillingham.Picture: Barry Goodwin
Six unbeaten before the weekend trip, and with three straight wins behind them, the Gills were looking to make another statement but came off second-best at York.
Gillingham’s early season injury issues looked to be easing ahead of this one, but they came back to hurt them again at York, with Will Goodwin and Eli King both limping off in the first half hour.
Goodwin had just returned to the Gillingham starting line-up as a replacement for Nottingham Forest loan striker Lamin Sillah, who wasn’t involved.
On the bench, newly signed goalkeeper Rohan Luthra provided cover for first-choice keeper Ollie Wright.
This was Gillingham’s first-ever visit to the impressive LNER Community Stadium on the outskirts of York, and they were well backed, with over 900 travelling fans forming part of a sellout crowd for the match.
Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth predicted this could be the team’s toughest test of the season so far. They certainly were tested.
York – managed by ex-Chatham boss Scott Lindsey – had won all three of their home fixtures ahead of the Gills’ visit, but Ainsworth’s men weren’t short of confidence, having won their previous three ahead of the trip.
But it was York who bossed the opening half and the Gills were fortunate to go into the break only a goal behind.
With just two minutes played, the hosts went ahead, with a fortuitous effort from Grey, getting on the end of an Ollie Pearce cross and seeing his effort loop over Gills keeper Ollie Wright.
Gillingham’s hopes of a fightback weren’t helped when Goodwin went off injured. It led to Robbie McKenzie taking up a role upfront, with Hale moving into the centre of attack.
There needed to be another reshuffle after 30 minutes when King went down injured and needed replacing. McKenzie dropped back into midfield as Garath McCleary joined the action upfront.
In defence, the Gills were constantly being tested.
Twice York hit the same upright, with Alex Newby crashing an effort off the post after cutting in off the flank.
Pearce went close to scoring the second from Hunt’s cross, getting a slight touch that took it just past the post.
Hunt came close himself after beating the offside trap and striking the post.
Andy Smith had to make a couple of crucial blocks, and keeper Wright was kept busy as the Gills managed to keep York down to one goal by the break.
Gillingham’s last remaining recognised striker, Hale, was struggling for a time with an injury to his side after going down in the box. Referee Scott Oldham ignored his penalty claims and waved away further protests before the break as his free-kick hit the wall, the striker claiming handball.
McCleary was trying to make things happen for the Gills from out wide in the second half, having one shot blocked and another go just wide.
York substitute Jovan Malcolm forced Wright into making another save, with a shot from the edge of the box on the hour mark, and Grey fizzed another shot over for the home side shortly after.
A triple change for the Gills saw Sheldon Kendall, Bradley Dack and Jack Daley introduced for the final 20 minutes, reverting to a back four.
Albarus was sent off in the 71st minute, picking up a second yellow card for a foul, just 11 minutes after his first for the same offence.
Soon enough, the Gills conceded a second. Malcolm outmuscled Daley and his low shot beat Wright to extend the home side’s lead with 75 minutes played.
Five minutes later York made it 3-0. A corner found its way out to Boyes on the edge of the box, and his shot goalwards got a slight touch off Pearce to take it past Wright.
James Brophy almost added to his impressive haul of goals with a curling effort but the crossbar denied the Gills a consolation goal.
Wright had to get behind a powerful late effort from Malcolm in what was York’s last meaningful attempt. The Gills reached full-time without a shot on target.
Gillingham: Wright, Smith (Daley 66mins), Beckles, Dobbs (Kendall 66mins), Freeman, Brophy, King (McCleary 30mins), McKenzie, Waldock, Goodwin (Albarus 19mins), Hale (Dack 66mins). Subs not used: Luthra, Antwi.
York: McNally, Fallowfield, Kitching, Johnson, Grey (King 80mins), Hunt, Pearce, Boyes, Felix (Maguire 80mins), Banks (Read 80mins), Newby (Malcolm 57mins). Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Palmer, Hunt.
Referee: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 8,438 (885 away)