Gillingham players are confused and dejected after the game. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham are still waiting their first win of the League 2 campaign after slipping up at home to Lincoln.

The Imps took the lead after just nine minutes through Cian Hughton. The Lincoln man fired low into the net after Albert Jarrett’s initial shot from the edge of the box was blocked by keeper Alan Julian.

Gillingham failed to muster a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, while visiting keeper Joe Anyon was able to comfortably deal with any crosses coming into the box.

Only Adebayo Akinfenwa tried his luck. An early chance was blocked by Adam Watts from close-range and later in the half he tried his luck from distance but saw the shot sail wide.

The Gills started the second half much brighter, helped with the early introduction of fit-again Curtis Weston.

Danny Spiller and Akinfenwa drew early saves from Anyon and Tony Sinclair headed narrowly wide from a Chris Palmer corner.

Despite Gillingham’s improvements Lincoln almost doubled the lead when Jarrett showed great feet to find some space and he picked out Delroy Facey.

The striker though spooned his shot over the bar just before the hour mark.

Substitute Luke Rooney tried his luck from distance, but Anyon saved, and the keeper was there again to deny the Gills man moments later with another good effort.

With two minutes left Akinfenwa hit the post with a low shot and the ball bounced back across goal into the keeper’s hands.

Lincoln almost doubled the lead in bizarre circumstances moments before full-time and Tony Sinclair was forced to clear off his own line.

Gills: Julian, Sinclair, Nutter, Gowling, Lawrence, Maher (Weston 50mins), Bentley (S Payne 59mins), Spiller, Palmer (Rooney 59mins), Barcham, Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Cronin, Essam, White, Southall.

Lincoln: Anyon, Green, Clapham, Pearce, Watts, Keltie, Anderson, Jarrett (A Hutchinson 80mins), Hughton, B Hutchinson (Broughton 90mins), Facey. Subs not used: Musslewhite, O’Keefe, Swaibu.

Attendance: 4,838.

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