Goalscorer Cody McDonald receives a high five from skipper Barry Fuller as Adebayo Akinfenwa gets ready to join the celebrations Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Andy Barcham scored twice as Gillingham extended their unbeaten run in League 2 to 11 games on Saturday.

Barcham struck at either end of the opening half at Priestfield to give Gillingham the advantage over Accrington Stanley at the interval.

In between Barcham’s first half efforts, the Gills conceded one and saw an effort from the penalty spot strike the post.

Cody McDonald scored his 19th of the season to extend Gillingham’s lead in the second half, just minutes after missing an open goal, and that effort finished the visitors off.

It had taken Gillingham winger Barcham just 80 seconds to put his side ahead after collecting Kevin Maher’s through ball and capitalising on some indecision in the Accrington area.

Gillingham failed to build on that lead and seven minutes later Accrington had the chance to level from the penalty spot, after Maher had fouled Andy Proctor. Phil Edwards, who scored two spot-kicks against the Gills in the reverse fixture, this time sent his effort crashing off the post.

It was a let-off for the Gills but Accrington were handed a life-line with 14 minutes gone. John Nutter miscued a clearance from in front of the goal and Sean McConville was on hand to pounce and make it 1-1. The 62 travelling fans were ecstatic.

Accrington were buoyed by the goal and Alan Julian was forced into a diving save moments later to deny Jimmy Ryan, while at the other end 18-goal man Cody McDonald headed over from Maher’s corner.

Both teams resorted to hitting some long balls as the half went on, but it was from one of those that Gillingham got back ahead in first half stoppage time.

Barcham was the goalscorer once more, after collecting Adebayo Akinfenwa’s knock down from Garry Richards' ball forward, as he rounded the keeper and smashed the ball high into the net.

Six minutes into the second half the Gills should have had their third, but McDonald somehow missed an open goal after Akinfenwa’s cross left him with the easiest of chances.

It nearly proved dear as seconds later Craney curled a shot that missed by a fraction.

McDonald celebrated with a sign of relief when he did manage to find the net 11 minutes into the second half, heading home an inviting cross from Nutter.

Substitute Joe Martin, who replaced injured Nutter, was denied a goal midway through the second half when McConville cleared his header off the line.

Dean Winnard smashed a low effort wide in stoppage time for Accrington but their fight had gone once McDonald had given the Gills a 3-1 lead.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Nutter (Martin 66mins), Richards, Lawrence, Maher, J Payne, Weston, Barcham, McDonald (Oli 89mins), Akinfenwa, Subs: Gowling, Jackman, Cronin, Sinclair, Rooney.

Accrington: Cisak, Jacobson, Edwards, Hessey, Winnard, Joyce, Craney, Proctor, Ryan (Lindfield 67mins), McConville, Gornell. Subs: Putterill, Parkinson, Dunbavin, Long, Smyth, Murphy.

Attendance: 5,299

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