Salford City 0 Gillingham 1: League 2 match report from the Peninsula Stadium – Cheye Alexander scores winner from penalty spot

Gillingham made it a nervy end to the season for play-off chasing Salford after winning Monday’s season finale from the penalty spot.

Salford needed to avoid defeat to guarantee themselves of a top-seven spot but the Gills scored late on when Cheye Alexander converted an 84th minute penalty to end their season on a high. Goal difference kept the home side inside the play-off places at the end of the day.

Gillingham’s miss and hit season came to an end at Salford, their survival guaranteed several weeks before, thanks to a super turnaround since the turn of the year.

The Gills will be gunning for the top positions in League 2 next season but results on the road still need to improve. Their survival this term has been built on a scintillating home record since January, interspersed with patchy away form.

Much of this side will still be here next season - in a refreshing change to the routine of yearly clear-outs. Gills’ January transfer business has assured they have a backbone to build on.

The Gills had wins at strugglers Colchester and bottom side Rochdale, their only three-point hauls on their travels this season, in contrast to 11 wins from 23 at Priestfield.

Jayden Clarke was handed his first Gillingham start - on his 22nd birthday - as one of four changes to the side which kicked off last time out, a 2-1 defeat at home to Newport.

This was Gills’ first away game against Salford and there was a sell-out crowd at the Peninsula Stadium, albeit one that seemed quite content with it being goalless. The hosts had the better of the first 45, certainly in the opening exchanges, as they dominated possession.

Gills keeper Jake Turner - in for Glenn Morris - was the busier of the two goalies and his best stop was to divert