Gillingham 0 Walsall 3 match report: Late goals from Isaac Moore, James Connolly and Aaron Pressley seal win at Priestfield in League 2

Gillingham hit the woodwork three times before losing to three late goals in their League 2 opener on Saturday.

The Gills were the better team for long periods against Walsall but substitute Isaac Moore, James Connolly and Aaron Pressley scored in the last nine minutes.

For the second successive Saturday, the Gills revealed an emergency loan goalkeeper. With Owen Mason sold by Mansfield to Bromley and Ollie Wright deemed still not fit enough, Gillingham signed Ashley Maynard-Brewer on loan from Sheffield Wednesday.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to Priestfield after a loan spell from Charlton at the start of the 2022/23 season, although he never made a league appearance then after dislocating his shoulder at Dover in pre-season.

The other promised news before kick-off saw Liam Gordon named captain as he made his debut after missing out last week against Luton through suspension.

The pair were two of four changes made by Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth with another returning face, Armani Little prominent in what was a promising opening half-hour.

After two early corners, Little’s fourth-minute cross found Will Goodwin at full stretch but he was unable to get enough contact at the far post to poke his effort beyond keeper Jed Ward.

Goodwin’s header lacked power five minutes later and Walsall right-back Elicha Ahui picked up an early caution for dissent.

Gillingham were vulnerable to the ball behind their defence last weekend and Walsall nearly exposed them after 14 minutes when Mason Hancock played Andrew Dallas through behind Andy Smith. However, Maynard-Brewer was out quickly to thwart the danger and Nick Freeman completed the clearance.

Walsall skipper Connolly was their biggest danger, forcing a comfortable save from