Bradford make it five wins in the last six games as they come away from Priestfield with a hard-earned three points, which takes them two points behind 4th-place Northampton with a game in hand.
The away side scored the opening goal when Smallwood converted a smart header at the back post. Not even five minutes into the second half, Ehmer lost out to Andy Cook, who skipped past Masterson and dinked it over Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris. The home side couldn’t hit back, as it finished two goals to nil.
Victory sees Bradford move back into the play-offs with only four points separating them from automatic promotion and a game in hand over the teams around them. For Gillingham, they stay seven points above the relegation drop with games in hand over the teams around them.
Starting Line-Ups
Gillingham were forced into changes as Tom Nichols could only make the bench and Timothée Dieng was unavailable after Saturday’s injury against Wimbledon. So they made three changes to the side that beat Wimbledon, with O’Keefe, Williams, and O’Brien coming in. Also, Ethan Coleman made his first appearance with the squad after being named to the bench.
Bradford went with the same team that won away at Doncaster on Saturday, which isn’t a real surprise considering they were defensively solid and got the three points. It proved to be a correct decision from Mark Hughes, as his team got the three points and won again.
Story Of The Match
The match between the two in-form sides of the division started with both teams trying to get the strikers involved in behind.
However, the game’s first chance came for Jefferies as he struck the ball low and hard, but it went straight at Bantams goalkeeper Harry Lewis, who managed to hold on well.
It was Bradford’s turn to create an opportunity as Jamie Walker found space in behind the Gills midfield before he blazed his shot over the bar.
Not too long after, the ball falls nicely to Andy Cook, who sets Costelloe on his way before his shot finds the welcoming arms of Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris.
Bradford was starting to gain some authority in this match as Costelloe found himself against the defender, step over, and then completely scuffed his shot, which slowly rolled into Morris’s hands.
Tutonda found himself cutting inside 30 yards from goal and blasts his effort over Harry Lewis’s bar, more of a hit and hope.
Moments later, Brad Halliday found himself with a bit of space before whipping in an inviting cross, which Smallwood glanced home expertly, giving Morris no chance.
Gills responded well to going behind, as Dom Jefferies found himself in range for a shot on goal, but Sam Stubbs intervened and put his body in the way.
Just before halftime, Jamie Walker finds himself in behind the midfield of Gillingham, driving towards goal, and hits a venomous shot that’s moving all over the place and forces a save from Morris.
Half Time: Gillingham 0-1 Bradford City
A couple of half chances in the first half, but lacked real quality, but the second half produced a little more.
Bradford started the better of the second half with Cooks’ scissor shot going wide and then winning a corner for his side.
Not even five minutes into the second half and the lead was doubled; this time it was magical from Andy Cook. He dispossessed Ehmer on the touch line before turning Masterson inside out and then dinking it over Morris, which was beautiful.
Matty Platt picks up the first card of the game after a foul on Aiden O’Brien.
Gills looked to hit back as they brought on Nichols for O’Keefe, a striker for a midfielder.
Cheye Alexander then put in an inviting cross that was met by Lapslie, but Harry Lewis was not to be beaten as he tipped it over the bar for a corner.
Gills started to gain momentum as Nichols played a lovely, fierce ball that was glanced on at the near post by O’Brien and trickled past the far post.
In the 70th minute, Coleman and Adelakun came on the pitch for Jefferies and Williams, with Coleman making his Gills debut.
Bradford went for a more defensive approach, bringing on Romoney Crichlow-Noble for Jamie Walker.
Bradford looked threatening when the ball was turned over, and this time it was Dara Costelloe who connected well with the ball and forced a smart stop from Morris.
Minutes after the first big save, he was called into action again as he got down low and fast to deny Andy Cook.
80 minutes in, Bradford made their second substitution of the match, with Emmanuel Osadebe coming on for Alex Gilliead.
Gills was trying to get back into the game, but the experience of Bradford and the quality of the team’s game management limited Gills’ opportunities in the last ten minutes.
Gills brought on Tristan Abrahams with less than five minutes to play, and Costelloe made way for Scott Banks.
Before the referee blew his whistle, he still had time to take Lapslie’s name and put him in the book, as with less than a minute to go, he picked up a yellow card.
A brilliant three points for the Bantams was confirmed when the referee blew his whistle after 95 minutes.
FULL TIME: Gillingham 0 – 2 Bradford City