Dom Jefferies and debutant Tom Nichols scored as Gillingham beat Hartlepool in the battle of League Two strugglers at Priestfield.
The hosts’ starting line-up featured all four of their January arrivals, including Nichols and midfielder Timothee Dieng, who almost combined for an opener within five minutes.
Josh Umerah almost fired the visitors into the lead against the run of play approaching the half-hour mark with a stinging drive that was tipped wide by Glenn Morris.
Nichols’ opener came five minutes before the break as he got the last touch on Alex MacDonald’s free-kick to amuse the ball past goalkeeper Ben Killip.
Within 60 seconds of an Umerah equalizer being ruled out for offside, midfielder Jefferies found the top corner to double his side’s advantage on 59 minutes.
Although they remain bottom of the division, Gillingham’s win – their first in 13 league games – moves them to within two points of Hartlepool and three behind Rochdale in 22nd.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Gillingham
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Morris
- 14McKenzie
- 4Wright
- 5Ehmer
- 3Tutonda
- 6Williams
- 38DiengBooked at 72mins
- 16JefferiesSubstituted forAlexanderat 87′minutes
- 7MacDonaldsSubstituted forAdelakunat 80′minutes
- 28Hawkins
- 20NicholsSubstituted forKashketat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Alexander
- 8O’Keefe
- 21Adelakun
- 23Baggott
- 24Kashket
- 25Turner
- 29Gbode
Hartlepool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Killip
- 26TumilityBooked at 38minsSubstituted forSheltonat 45′minutes
- 23Menayese
- 3Ferguson
- 37Dodds
- 16DolanBooked at 19mins
- 20Sylla
- 8Featherstone
- 12GreySubstituted forMcDonaldsat 81′minutes
- 9Umerah
- 19HamiltonSubstituted forHastieat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Niang
- 6Shelton
- 7Hastie
- 11McDonalds
- 13Boyes
- 28Missilou
- Referees:
- Robert Lewis
- Attendance:
- 2.003
Live Text
-
Match ends, Gillingham 2, Hartlepool United 0.
-
Second Half ends, Gillingham 2, Hartlepool United 0.
-
Hand ball by Mark Shelton (Hartlepool United).
-
Offside, Gillingham. Glenn Morris tries a through ball, but Scott Kashket is caught offside.
-
Substitution, Gillingham. Cheye Alexander replaces Dom Jefferies.
-
Attempt missed. Josh Umerah (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from the center of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by David Ferguson with a headed pass.
-
Attempt saved. David Ferguson (Hartlepool United) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mohamad Sylla with a cross.
-
Substitution, Hartlepool United. Wesley McDonald replaces Joe Grey.
-
Substitution, Gillingham. Hakeeb Adelakun replaces Alexander MacDonald.
-
Substitution, Gillingham. Scott Kashket replaces Tom Nichols.
-
Offside, Gillingham. Oliver Hawkins tries a through ball, but Dom Jefferies is caught offside.
-
Foul by Mark Shelton (Hartlepool United).
-
Timothee Dieng (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
-
Timothee Dieng (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Delay in match (Hartlepool United).
-
Josh Umerah (Hartlepool United) hits the right post with a header from the center of the box. Assisted by David Ferguson with a cross.
-
Attempt missed. Tom Nichols (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
-
Goal! Gillingham 2, Hartlepool United 0. Dom Jefferies (Gillingham) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Tom Nichols.
-
Offside, Hartlepool United. Mark Shelton tries a through ball, but Josh Umerah is caught offside.