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Gillingham claimed a well-earned victory over promotion-chasing Carlisle thanks to a stoppage-time winner.
The Gills more than matched their high-flying visitors at Priestfield and restricted them to very little in the way of chances, bagging the points in the fourth minute of injury time as Shaun Williams smashed the ball home infront of the Rainham End.
Gillingham went into the game 10 points clear of the relegation zone - seemingly safe enough with nine to go. They are now 12 points from danger after Saturday's win.
“We will celebrate safety as and when it is mathematically confirmed, not a second before,” insisted the Gills chairman Brad Galinson pre-match. It was a meeting between two of the division’s form teams, with Carlisle’s impressive run taking them third, while the Gills had pulled clear of trouble, with a superb home record heading into the weekend.
It's now seven wins from eight at Priestfield in 2023 for Harris' men.
Midweek match winner Aiden O’Brien came into the starting line-up for the Gills as the only change from their midweek win over Crewe.
There was nothing between the sides in the first half, with the Gills making the promotion chasers look very average. The lack of goalmouth action inside the home box was a bonus for the pigeon feasting on the grass seed infront of the Rainham End.
Gillingham had a handful of corner kicks that they were unable to capitalise on. Alex MacDonald had a low one into the near post that nearly got the better of former Gills keeper Tomas Holy while the same player nearly got on the end of an earlier one from the opposite flag, played in low by Williams.
There was also a shot from the edge of the box from MacDonald that wasn’t far off the mark.
Carlisle went into the break without a shot on target. A corner and a free-kick from the visitors came to nothing for as they struggled to create anything of note.
Gillingham made a bright enough start to the second half as Tom Nichols and Williams both went wide with efforts at goal. Oli Hawkins couldn’t quite get a decent connection on an inviting cross from Williams as the Gills continued to ask questions of the high-flyers and the big Gills striker headed just wide from a corner.
Carlisle were forced to make attacking changes with an hour gone in a bid to get themselves into the game.
Timothee Dieng had half a chance that goalkeeper Holy had to be alert to before Carlisle enjoyed some pressure on the Gills goal at the other end as their substitutions and a tweak to their attacking shape briefly made them more of a threat. A last-ditch tackle from MacDonald denied Ben Barclay as he was set to shoot.
Carlisle’s first on-target shot came with 10 minutes left as substitute Kristian Dennis found space down Gills’ left side and stung the palms of Morris - the only save he had to make all afternoon.
A glancing header from Max Ehmer late on was claimed by Holy and there were calls for Barclay to be sent off after substitute Tristan Abrahams was hacked down when seemingly in on goal. Only a yellow card was produced.
Carlisle picked up a few late yellow cards for kicking the ball away as they looked to avoid a late defeat as Gills threatened, content to hang on for a point.
But a deserved victory for the Gills came in the 94th minute as Dom Jefferies' ball into the box was cleared to Williams and he made no mistake from a few yards out, rifling the ball past Holy to clinch the points.
Gillingham: Morris, McKenzie, Alexander, Ehmer, Masterson, Williams, Dieng, MacDonald (Jefferies 74mins), O’Brien (Jefferies 74mins), Nichols (Abrahams 85mins), Hawkins (Wright 90+5mins). Subs not used: Tutonda, Coleman, Holtam.
Carlisle: Holy, Senior (Dennis 78mins), Armer, Moxon, Feeney, Guy, Patrick (Robinson 78mins), Mellish, Barclay, Gordon (Edmondson 56mins), Garner (Gibson 56mins). Subs not used: Kelly, Whelan, McCalmont.
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Attendance: 6,110 (475 away)
