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Gillingham finished the weekend sitting fourth in the League 1 table and striker Vadaine Oliver believes they could be there for the long-haul.
Oliver was part of a promotion-winning Northampton Town team last season and he sees similarities in a Gillingham side which he thinks has the ingredients for success.
Speaking after the 3-1 win over highly-fancied Oxford United , the striker said: “Nobody will have expected that. Everyone knew we were the underdogs and everyone would have written off, expecting Oxford to pummel us. We rode our luck at times but it shows our quality, our strength in character. We have a young side and for us to come away 3-1, people need to watch out.
“We have gelled really quickly, we have a good group, everyone gets on, there is no split in camp, everyone is together and it works its way onto the pitch.
“We are a force to be reckoned with if we can just keep the momentum going I don’t see why we can’t be up there.
“It is rare that you get such a group that is so tight. Fortunately I was involved in one last year at Northampton, it was pretty similar. That got us promotion and I don’t see why this one can’t do the same. It has all the quality and we have that little spirit, that edge, where we can beat anyone.”
Oliver scored his first league goal for Gillingham on Saturday, heading home a Jordan Graham cross. The goal provider got one himself and the forwards have linked up well in the opening weeks of the season.
He said: “Jordan knows where I am going to be and where to put it, When you get that kind of cohesion it is a dream really. My dream anyway is to play with someone who knows where I am going to be and he is going to put it in that exact spot. I peeled off, he put it there for me and I finished it off.
“It is a perfect little partnership brewing, with Dom (Samuel upfront) as well. He has chipped in with two goals. We have a good tight knit group, everyone has gelled well, it is a joy to play in, everyone is enjoying their stuff.”
Gillingham had to work hard for their weekend win, with Oxford dominating possession and having twice as many chances, but the scoreline was all that mattered in the end.
“It’s been great from the boys,” said Oliver.
“We executed the plan pretty well, came away with the three points against a really good side.
“They looked pretty, they had all the possession, they had 30 or whatever shots but well done! It didn’t get them the result.
“We stuck to our guns, we performed admirably against a good side and if we can carry on this run of form I don’t see why we won’t be up there.”
Oliver is certainly keen to move on with his career and felt Gillingham gave him a better platform than staying with Northampton, who won promotion in last season’s League 2 play-offs, beating Exeter City 4-0 in the final at Wembley.
He was offered a new deal at Northampton.
“I want to push myself,” he said. “I don’t feel I have got to the level I have set myself. I want to push and get there and the gaffer has given me the perfect platform coming here to do that.
“It was hard to leave Northampton, they offered me another deal, but I felt this was the right option for me to kick on and be on that right path to move on up the league.
“Keith Curle (the Northampton manager) got the best out of me last year and showed me what I had to do to be successful. I feel I have carried that on and brought that form here.
“My career is nowhere near over, I have a lot to give and this is the perfect platform to kick on. I feel like we can do really well this year. You only have to look at Wycombe last year (winning promotion from League 1), they had a similar spirit that we have. I would not discredit us or count us out, I really do think we have a good opportunity.”
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