Frank Nouble scores the opening goal for Gillingham at Aldershot Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham claimed much-needed joy on away soil with victory at Aldershot in League 2 on Saturday.

The Gills held a 2-0 lead at the break, thanks to goals from Frank Nouble and Chris Whelpdale, but their advantage was halved with 10 minutes left as Scott Davies struck for the hosts.

A determined second-half effort saw the visitors hang on to make it two league wins on the spin.

The Gills had opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Nouble converted Danny Jackman’s corner.

Jackman took a number of corner kicks in the first half and every one of them caused problems for the home side. On two occasions the ball fell to Matt Lawrence, but both efforts were cleared off the line by Aldershot.

The hosts did come close to scoring from a set piece themselves, with a free-kick on the edge of the box that Luke Guttridge looked to have smashed into the top corner, before Ross Flitney turned the effort over the bar.

End-to-end action saw Shots keeper Jamie Young make an even better save to deny Danny Kedwell and the Gills midway through the half. The striker was thwarted moments later when Aaron Brown cleared the ball from under his own bar.

The second came on 36 minutes and it was Whelpdale with the goal, striking from 25 yards, with an effort that keeper Young flapped at and watched as it nestled low into the goal.

It was Whelpdale’s fourth goal of the season with his other three coming in away wins at Crewe, Hereford and Torquay.

Aldershot, as expected, put on the pressure at the start of the second half and Darren Jones had a free header from Alex Rodman’s free-kick that went straight to Flitney. The Gills defence needed full concentration to keep the hosts at bay.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men broke out of defence on the hour and Jackman came close to making it 3-0 but his low shot fizzed just wide of Young’s post. Whelpdale almost scored another himself 10 minutes later, with a volley that went narrowly over the bar.

At the other end Aldershot were running out of ideas and defender Jones tried his luck from distance but dragged the effort well wide.

With 10 minutes left, the Gills just had to hang on but a great strike from substitute Davies gave the hosts renewed hope as it flew in past Flitney from 25 yards. At 2-1 it was going to be a tense finish.

The Gills had to play four minutes of stoppage time, during which headers from Brown and Collins sailed wide, but the referee brought the game to an end spelling delight for the 669 travelling fans.

Gillingham: Flitney, Martin, Lee, Lawrence, Richards, J Payne, Jackman (Weston 87mins), Whelpdale, Kedwell, Nouble (Montrose 84mins), Kuffour. Subs not used: King, Oli, Gazzaniga.

Aldershot: Young, Herd, Straker, Jones, Brown, Guttridge, McGlashan (Mekki 84mins), Rankine, Hylton, Rodman (Davies 66mins), Vincenti (Collins 54mins). Subs not used: Morris, Day.

Attendance: 3,249

How important was it for Gills to record back-to-back league wins? Have your say below.