Gillingham 2 Walsall 1

IT WAS fifth time lucky for Gillingham as they notched their first victory of the season against Walsall at Priestfield on Saturday.

Gills boss Ronnie Jepson had a nervy wait for the final whistle and was relieved to see his side collect their first maximum points of the season.

"I’m pleased for the supporters and the players – that result would have done both of them good," he said.

"It was always going to be a tense and nervous game with us not getting a win from our previous games, but we’ve got three points on the board now, and the lads showed some spirit and some spunk to get them."

The Gills took the lead on 14 minutes when Andrew Crofts crossed for Delroy Facey, whose header was deflected in by the returning Gary Mulligan.

Walsall were level less than five minutes later, though, when Daniel Fox was allowed time to shoot on the edge of the box and he sent a fine left-footed effort beyond keeper Simon Royce.

But the home side regained the lead on 34 minutes when Mulligan latched onto Facey's flick-on and looped the ball over keeper Clayton Ince for his second.

The Irish striker came close to a first half hat-trick but his 37th-minute shot - again from a Facey knock-down - struck the crossbar.

Gillingham survived a late scare when Darren Wrack's shot from the edge of the area cannoned back off the upright.

Gillingham: Royce, Clohessy, Cox, King (Hamilton 82), Armstrong, Southall, Lomas (Stone 79), Crofts, Bentley, Mulligan (Graham 67), Facey.Subs Not Used: Stillie, Hamilton, Stone, Pugh.
Attendance: 4,806.

* Keep up to date with all the news from Priestfield every Monday and Friday in the Medway Messenger.