Monday 29th February 2016
by Howard Borrell

SkyBet League One
Gillingham 1-2 Chesterfield
The Priestfield Stadium, Saturday 27th February 2016, 3pm

Danny Wilson (left), brought his side to the Priestfield Stadium buoyed by the vital win over Crewe but knowing that the high flying Gills, who sneaked a 1-0 win at the Proact earlier in the season, would be an even harder nut to crack.

The Spireites have a patchy history in Kent but they were undefeated in their most recent three visits and were looking to build on the previous weekend's confidence boosting three points.

On the same day, Gillingham suffered a surprise defeat at Oldham Athletic who, like the Spireites, are battling to climb away from the wrong end of the table; they grabbed a second morale-boosting win in midweek to ensure that there was no complacency in the Spireites' camp.

Wilson was pleased to welcome Liam O'Neil back after he was given the "all clear" from his head injury sustained at Burton Albion. So there was just one change to the starting eleven with Chris Herd needing a little longer to recover from his hip injury.

The Spireites had a first minute escape after a clear Dominic Samuel fired rashly wide; not long after Rory Donnelly poked weakly towards goal when the opening called for better.

With the initial storm weathered, the Spireites won the game's first flag kick with Ollie Banks' shot failing to test home keeper, Stuart Nelson.

Max Ehmer had no complaints about picking up the game's first yellow card when he unceremoniously brought down Gboly Ariyibi who would have been clear on goal. However, the resulting free kick from Connor Dimaio failed to test Nelson.

A scrappy few minutes ended with the Gills winning a free kick 35 yards out; leading scorer Dack floated the ball wide and Donnelly blasted over.

Lee Novak did get the ball in the net at the half way mark but the linesman had correctly flagged earlier.

Ariyibi was proving a real handful and forced Ryan Jackson into a less than subtle challenge which rightly earned him a yellow.

After 30 minutes, Ehmer almost broke the deadlock for the home side after he turned well and fired goalwards; a corner was the only reward after a vital line clearance.

The Spireites edged in front in the 36th minute.

A superb Ariyibi run down the right produced a dream of a cross and Ebanks-Blake (above), did what was required to touch home from close range.

0-1

In time added on, Lee Novak doubled the advantage when he fired home from 30 yards; his blast was exquisite as he powered an unstoppable shot into the top right.

HT: 0-2

The home side made their second change at the start of the second period. Bradley Garmston replaced Adam Chicksen and immediately looked a threat; his cross from the left produced a strong downward header from Donnelly that Lee claimed easily.

The Gills went close when Samuel connected well with a George Williams cross. Lee produced a stunning save to tip away for a corner kick that landed straight back in his arms. 

Lee was forced into action again just before the hour mark when Garmston tried his luck from 25 yards. The shot dipped and would have gone in if Lee hadn't been alert to the danger.

It was real end to end stuff and the hugely impressive Dimaio laid off to the right for Novak (left), he burst forward but shot too early and saw his effort flash wide of the left upright. Moments later Banks' shot from a ridiculously tight angle on the bye-line and his effort was agonisingly close.

The Spireites made their first change with a quarter of the game to go. Ebanks-Blake, who had worked tirelessly, gave way to a fresh pair of legs as Dion Donohue entered the game.

A strong shot from substitute Luke Norris forced Lee to get his body behind the effort. The danger was cleared but the Gills continued to press without seriously worrying a well organised Chesterfield rearguard.

The Spireites broke and almost added a third, though great inter-play between John and Novak failed to test Nelson.

With ten minutes to go, Gillingham scored to ensure a tense finish. With Lee out of his goal, Luke Norris floated over a cross that Osadebe gobbled up with glee.

1-2

What a game we had on our hands! Novak just failed to connect at one end and at the other, Donnelly could have levelled for the Gills but his header was way over the bar; Ryan Jackson was similarly wayward moments later.

Once again there was four minutes additional time and a great break put Novak through but there was no support.

The whistle blew just as Ariyibi was about to break forward but the only thing that mattered was the hard work done in the first half proved enough to seal three precious and well deserved points.

FT: 1-2

Spireites boss Danny Wilson rightly pointed that the win was due, just as much, to the defensive effort shown throughout and particularly the last fifteen minutes, when Gillingham poured forward relentlessly. The back four performed heroics - but everyone played their part in ensuring the Spireites inched another step closer to safety.

Connor Dimaio and Tom Anderson were solid throughout, Ariyibi was a constant threat in the first period, Ebanks-Blake showed his experience and Novak added guile to see out added time when the pressure had been immense.

There's a long way to go - but add to the haul on Tuesday when Blackpool come to the Proact and there will start to be light at the end of the tunnel.

GILLINGHAM:
Nelson, Jackson, Ehmer, El-Abd, Samuel (Norris, 63), Morris, Osadebe, Donnelly, Dack (Williams, 32), Chicksen (Garmston, 46), Wright (c)
Subs not used: Morris, Hessenthaler, Oldaker, List

CHESTERFIELD:
Lee, John, Hird (c), Anderson, Talbot, Novak, Banks (O'Shea, 83), O'Neil, Dimaio, Ariyibi , Ebanks-Blake (Donohue, 67)
Subs not used: Chapman (gk), Gardner, Humphreys, Simons, Slew

Referee: Kevin Johnson

Attendance: 6,012

For more information and other CFC news, go to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk

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