Goals from Connor Ogilvie, Olly Lee (2), Brandon Hanlan and an own goal saw Gillingham run out 5-0 winners at the Priestfield Stadium this afternoon. The brave young Wanderers weren’t able to contain a strong and experienced Gills line-up.
Team News
Jack Hobbs went straight into the team after penning a new contract with the club on Friday.
Hobbs was one of four changes from Wanderers’ previous game against Ipswich, with Eddie Brown, Jordan Boon and Dennis Politic returning to Jimmy Phillips’ starting XI.
First Half
Remi Matthews was pressed into early action after his difficult kick from Hobbs’ back pass went straight into the path of Brandon Hanlan. Fortunately for Matthews’ the striker’s first touch was heavy and the keeper was able to get to the ball.
That moment sparked Gills into life and Wanderers were on the back foot as the hosts were intent on pressing into the Wanderers’ box.
Connor Oglivie’s rampaging run down the left flank saw him getting into a dangerous position. His resulting cross was cleared but eventually Gills won a free kick. Ogilive got on the end of it but his header went just over the bar.
At the other end, some good movement from Politic and Weir saw the ball get crossed towards Brown, but Fuller got in front of the Wanderers front man to clear the danger.
A wayward shot from Alfie Jones after getting on the end of Lee’s pass gave the visitors some respite.
A shot from Mark Byrne on the edge of the box took a deflection off a Wanderers defender for a thrown in from which Lee’s curling effort was cleared for corner.
Some smart play from Politic saw him cleverly get past Max Ehmer to put in a lovely through-ball for Brown, but a fantastic last gasp tackle from Fuller denied the Wanderers striker an opportunity on goal.
Alex Jakubiak’s weaving run saw him get a shot on target but it failed to trouble Matthews.
Brown was let in on goal following a mistake from a Gills defender. After rounding the keeper, Brown was penalised for a foul on O’Connor before he could get his foot on the ball for a goalscoring opportunity.
The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Ogilvie powered the ball past Matthews after the ball fell in his path from a free-kick.
Zouma lost possession in midfield and the ball fell to Jakubiak, his shot from a narrow angle was held by Matthews.
Lee tried his luck from distance but his shot barely troubled Matthews who dived to his right to save the effort.
The hosts got their second when Lee guided the ball home after Wanderers failed to clear Fuller’s cross.
Wanderers were desperately unfortunate not to get a goal back just before the break when Politic’s superb 25 yard-free kick was spectacularly saved by Bonham who had to be at full-stretch to stop the ball going in the bottom right hand corner.
Second Half
Hanlan spurned a glorious chance to increase the Gills lead shortly after the restart when he blazed the ball high and wide over the bar after running in on goal.
The striker made amends shortly afterwards to turn the ball in at the near post after shaking off the attentions of Zouma to add a third for the home side.
Three became four shortly afterwards when Lee turned in a right sided cross to grab his second of the afternoon.
Jakubiak cross-shot cannoned off Matthews’ crossbar as Gillingham looked to increase their lead.
Gillingham’s fifth was an own goal which inadvertently came off Boon after a dangerous ball was put in from the right hand side.
The cross bar denied Wanderers a consolation goal when Hobbs’ header cannoned off the woodwork after he got to a Brockbank centre.
Full Time
Bolton Wanderers: Matthews, Lowe ©, Hobbs (Graham 90) , Murphy, Weir, Brockbank, Politic (Senior 86), Darcy (King-Harmes 57), Zouma, Boon, Brown
Subs Not Used: Alexander, White, Brown-Sterling, Richards