[ 23 Aug 25 ] GILLS v Crewe Alexandra Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Crewe edge the wins by 25 wins to the Gills' 23 and just 11 of the 59 league and cup meetings ended in draws. The Gills are winless in the last 4 ties between the sides, failing to score in all 4, and have won 1 of the last 6.
- Crewe last won at Priestfield back in March 2014 (a 4th consecutive win for them in Medway) and, since then, the Gills are unbeaten in 7 home games against them. Back to back 0-0 home draws in the previous 2 seasons ended 5 consecutive wins in which the Gills scored 12 goals and conceded 2.
- Like Chesterfield previously, having ended the previous season with defeats Crewe had won their first 3 league games of the season (and made it 4 out of 4 on Tuesday). They had 1 win in their final 12 games of last season and were winless in the final 6, losing 5 including the last 3.
- Already at this early stage, Crewe have scored 8 first half goals from their 4 league games. Only Grimsby had scored more from BOTH first AND second half goals. 4 sides have yet to score before half time and Little's penalty against Chesterfield was the Gills first in 7 games.
- Crewe averaged 3.3 shots on target in league games last season but are averaging 6.5 this season. They have managed 26 in their 4 games compared to the Gills' 10 and have managed a league high of 10 on target in 2 of those 4 games.

[Sat 23rd August 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Crewe Alexandra
Opposition Manager: Lee Bell Matchday Team: Tom Booth, Reece Hutchinson, [c] Mickey Demetriou, James Connolly, Lewis Billington, Conor Thomas (Louis Moult), Owen Lunt (Emre Tezgel), Calum Agius (James Golding), Max Sanders, Tommi O'Reilly (Charlie Finney), Josh March
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (1st)
Referee: Abigail Byrne
Attendance: 6,089 (234)

(15.00) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 ]
(15.05) Sam Gale drags down a Crewe attacker and is booked. From the free kick, Demetriou gets his head to the ball and hits the bar.
(15.19) Demetriou has the ball in the net but it is ruled out for offside against March.
(15.30) Rather than cross, Hutton plays an intelligent ball to Andrews who tries to do too much. He scuffs a placed effort when perhaps power may have been more difficult to defend.
(15.31) O'Reilly this time with a snap shot that hits the frame of the goal.
(15.34) Great play from Hutton to hold off challenges and wait until Andrews is in space. A quick lay off plays in Nevitt who strikes wide.
(15.45) 1 minute will be added to the half.
(15.46) Half Time 0-0.

(16.01) The second half kicks off.
(16.05) Cirino works himself some good space and crosses well for Andrews but a defender does well to deny him a free header.
(16.10) Dack looks certain to score but his weak effort is hacked away inside the 6 yard box. Crewe counter-attack and March takes Morris out of the game but side foots into the side netting with an empty goal in front of him.
(16.13) Crewe hit the woodwork for third time! This time Saunders hits the underside of the bar and the ball bounces away.
(16.27) March sends the ball in. 2 players slide and the ball beats Morris before trickling onto the post and being cleared off the line by Gale.
(16.37) Aaron Rowe has a good shot but it flashes across the face of goal and wide.
(16.46) The fourth official indicates there will be a minimum of 6 minutes added to the game.
(16.46) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Crewe Alexandra: Gale
(16.53) FULL TIME 1-0

Gills' League Position After Game: 5th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c93dwyqqe1nt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EAa98KNR5w