Gillingham 1 Chesterfield 0: League 2 match report from Priestfield Stadium – Robbie McKenzie on target for the Gills

Gillingham played half an hour with ten men but managed to protect their early lead against Chesterfield to claim another win.

Chesterfield twice hit the woodwork in the opening half and again in the second but the Gills held onto a lead that had come through Robbie McKenzie’s eighth-minute header.

Gillingham had captain Max Ehmer sent off for a second bookable offence shortly after George Lapslie headed against the post after an hour. The visitors finished with 10 men themselves as Chey Dunkley picked up two yellow cards in three minutes during stoppage-time.

Manager Mark Bonner made four changes to his Gillingham starting eleven.

An injury to goalkeeper Jake Turner meant a start for 40-year-old Glenn Morris, who will now fight for the shirt with Fulham loanee Luca Ashby-Hammond.

Marcus Wyllie was preferred upfront to Jacob Wakeling, making his first Football League appearance. George Lapslie replaced the absent Tim Dieng.

Aaron Rowe’s return to the starting line-up didn’t last long as he went off injured with a muscle strain, after just 20 minutes.

Named among the subs was summer signing Bradley Dack and big striker Josh Andrews. Neither had featured previously in the current season.

The Chesterfield teamsheet showed the quality Gills were up against, the visitors having the luxury of Will Grigg leading their attack. Former Gillingham midfielder Darren Oldaker returned to Priestfield, a place where his career never took off despite much promise and undoubted talent.

Both teams were unbeaten ahead of the early kick off, the Gills starting the weekend top of the table.

It was Chesterfield who came closest to an early breakthrough as Oldaker smashed a 30-yard free-kick against the underside of the bar. Wyllie was on hand