Gillingham 1 Accrington 0: Ashley Nadesan scores winner in League 2 match at Priestfield

Gillingham got their home campaign at Priestfield off to a winning start on Saturday against Accrington.

Ashley Nadesan netted Gills’ opener after 29 minutes and that goal was enough to clinch the points, despite a dominant second-half performance from the hosts, winning 1-0.

Manager Neil Harris made six changes from the team that started the midweek match against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

Shaun Williams and Jonny Williams returned to the middle of the park while there was a first appearance of the season for Tim Dieng, after recovering from injury.

Scott Malone, keeper Jake Turner and striker Tom Nichols all came into the XI following the memorable midweek cup win.

It was the first time Nichols and Nadesan had started a game for the Gills. The two strikers knew each other inside out from their time at Crawley together and they combined several times in the opening half.

Nadesan beat visiting keeper Toby Savin to the ball for the opener after running onto a delicate ball forward from Nichols. The chance came from Jake Turner’s long clearance forward that defender Jay RIch-Baghuelou could only divert into Nichols’ path.

Gillingham had grown into the half after a few signs from Accrington that they could threaten to spoil the positive vibes at Priestfield.

Just before the match, the club had announced that record season ticket sales had been achieved this season.

Home goalie Turner didn’t have anything too tricky to deal with, however, as the Gills went into the break ahead.

Savin had saved well to deny Robbie McKenzie while Shaun Williams and Nichols had put efforts over the bar.

Gillingham captain Shaun Williams wasn’t far off the mark with an early second-half chance that drifted wide while Malone glanced a header