Gillingham cruised to a 4-1 victory over Chesterfield at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium to continue their strong start to the League Two season.
A double from captain Armani Little, a debut strike for Lenni Cirino and Marcus Wyllie’s first league goal sealed a memorable evening for Gareth Ainsworth’s side.
Little Leads From the Spot
The Gills went into the contest unchanged in spirit, if not entirely in selection, with Ainsworth handing full debuts to Cirino and Jonny Williams. Bradley Dack dropped to the bench while Max Clark was suspended, but the hosts showed attacking intent from the outset.
Their breakthrough came after 26 minutes when Josh Andrews beat Zach Hemming to a loose ball and was brought down by the visiting goalkeeper. Little converted the resulting penalty with composure, sending Hemming the wrong way. The midfielder might have had a second before the interval, but Andrews missed a clear chance after being set free in the area.
Chesterfield struggled to gain a foothold in the first half, though Armando Dobra carried a threat from midfield. Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris was called upon to deny Ronan Darcy but otherwise remained largely untroubled.
Clinical Second Half
Five minutes after the restart, Elliott Nevitt was fouled in the box by Ryan Stirk, giving the hosts a second penalty. Little once again made no mistake, drilling his shot into the same corner to double the advantage.
Chesterfield briefly threatened a comeback when Dobra found the net with a neat finish following good link play with Will Grigg. However, within minutes Gillingham restored their two-goal cushion in spectacular fashion. Morris launched a long ball that Chesterfield failed to clear, allowing Cirino to chest down and lash home a powerful strike for a debut goal to remember.
Substitutions gave the hosts further energy, with veteran striker Sam Vokes introduced for his first appearance since joining the club. As the game moved into stoppage time, Nelson Khumbeni pressed aggressively to win possession before squaring for Wyllie, who calmly slotted home his maiden league goal to seal the win.
Writer’s View
This was a statement win for Gillingham, who showed resilience, creativity and a ruthless edge in front of goal. Little’s penalties highlighted his composure as captain, while Cirino’s explosive strike underlined the potential of the club’s summer signings.
With Ainsworth’s tactical tweaks paying dividends and experienced figures like Vokes now in the fold, the Gills are beginning to look like a side capable of sustaining a serious challenge in League One. Their ability to respond quickly after conceding was particularly impressive, and with confidence rising, Priestfield may once again become a difficult place for visiting teams.
