SKY BET LEAGUE 1     
Saturday April 24th, 3.00pm      
MEMS Priestfield Stadium

GILLINGHAM 2
Vadaine Oliver 11
Olly Lee 68

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Ryan Edmondson 79
Fraser Horsfall 83

Gillingham: Jack Bonham, Ryan Jackson (sub Rob McKenzie 90), Connor Ogilvie, Stuart O’Keefe, Jack Tucker, Kyle Dempsey, Dominic Samuel (sub Gerald Sithole 89), Olly Lee (sub Jordan Graham 89), Alex MacDonald, Vadaine Oliver, Robbie Cundy
Subs not used: Sacha Bastien, Tyreke Johnson, Tom O’Connor, Henry Woods
 
Cobblers: Jonathan Mitchell, Peter Kioso, Lloyd Jones, Fraser Horsfall, Joseph Mills, Shaun McWilliams (sub Ryan Edmondson 57), Bryn Morris, Ryan Watson (sub Caleb Chukwuemeka 75), Sam Hoskins, Mickel Miller (sub Mark Marshall 57), Alex Jones (sub Danny Rose 46)
Subs not used: Charlie Woods, Michael Harriman, Cian Bolger

Referee: Carl Brook

Booked:
Gillingham: Stuart O'Keefe (32), Robbie Cundy (42), Dominic Samuel (71)
Cobblers: Ryan Watson (14, 8th of the season), Joseph Mills (40, 5th), Bryn Morris (55, 6th)

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Gillingham: none      
Cobblers: none

Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

Mickel Miller came into the side in the only change made by Jon Brady for the trip to Gillingham, Caleb Chukwuemeka dropping to the bench. Peter Kioso was able to play despite his ongoing groin injury while former Cobbler Vadaine Oliver started up front for the Gills.

Lloyd Jones made an early block to deny Olly Lee a clear shot on goal while for the Cobblers Joseph Mills curled a free-kick just wide.

Jones made another vital interception this time on Alex MacDonald but it was only a temporary reprieve and the home side took the lead from a corner on 11 minutes, Vadaine Oliver on the end of a flick on to force the ball home from close range.

Jonathan Mitchell saved from Dominic Samuel and Kyle Dempsey as the Kent club pressed for a second goal but the Cobblers had a chance to equalise when a short back pass let in Alex Jones who, one-on-one with Jack Bonham, couldn’t find a finish. The Gillingham keeper was however called upon to turn behind a shot from Miller while Sam Hoskins went close with a low drive following a Cobblers counter-attack.

Jon Brady made a change at half-time with Danny Rose replacing Alex Jones. Ten minutes into the second half Robbie Cundy flashed a header wide before Mark Marshall and Ryan Edmondson replaced Mickel Miller and Shaun McWilliams in a double change.

Connor Ogilvie headed narrowly wide as the game neared the hour mark while Bonham produced a good save to turn behind a strong header from Edmondson and Bryn Morris saw a shot deflected wide.

Olly Lee beat Mitchell from an acute angle to double the home side’s lead midway through the second half but the Cobblers continued to battle away and it needed a headed goal line clearance to deny Marshall a wonder goal.

Caleb Chukwuemeka came on for Ryan Watson with fifteen to play and the substitute provided the assist for Ryan Edmondson to pull a goal back on 79 minutes, the Leeds loanee firing home from Chukwuemeka’s knock down.

Fraser Horsfall then headed home from a Joseph Mills corner to make it 2-2 before Mitchell made a superb save to prevent Alex MacDonald putting the Gills back in front.

Bonham saved from Rose as the Cobblers pushed for a winner but with Town pushing up Gillingham struck the woodwork on the break, Dominic Samuel curling a shot against the post.

Horsfall flicked a header wide from a corner and Marshall fired over in stoppage time but despite the best efforts of Jon Brady's side they couldn’t force a winner.

GILLINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (3) 3       
FOULS: (8) 19       
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 5

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (1) 9
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 1