Match ends, Preston North End 3, Gillingham 1.
PrestonPreston North End3GillinghamGillingham1
Preston maintained their good form with a win over Gillingham in League One.
The hosts took an early lead when John Welsh's shot found the top corner after Stuart Beavon's lay-off.
But the Gills drew level on the stroke of half-time after Jack King miscued a headed clearance and Leon Legge fed Cody McDonald who fired home.
Paul Gallagher regained the lead with a shot from the edge of the area before Neil Kilkenny sealed the win from close range with his first touch.
Gillingham manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Kent:
"The players have worked exceptionally hard. I know we got beat today but we played against a very good team. The main objective was to stay in the division, start again and learn from the season.
"In the end, the club didn't have a particularly good start - so to finish off with 52 points, I think we've all got to be pleased with that.
"I'm just really, really pleased we're still in the division because there was one or two times where I thought this is going to be very close - but we're over the moon now."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 4-4-2
- 23Rudd
- 2Keane
- 3Laird
- 31BrowneSubstituted forKilkennyat 62'minutes
- 22King
- 6Wright
- 11HolmesSubstituted forHumphreyat 62'minutes
- 19Welsh
- 14GarnerSubstituted forDaviesat 75'minutes
- 10Beavon
- 12Gallagher
Substitutes
- 1Stuckmann
- 4Huntington
- 7Humphrey
- 9Davies
- 16Buchanan
- 17Davies
- 37Kilkenny
Gillingham
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Nelson
- 29Hewitt
- 3Martin
- 31HessenthalerSubstituted forDackat 79'minutes
- 6Legge
- 26Barrett
- 19Smith
- 12Gregory
- 10McDonald
- 18LeeSubstituted forAkinfenwaat 70'minutes
- 7WhelpdaleSubstituted forWestonat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Linganzi
- 8Akinfenwa
- 11Weston
- 15Dack
- 23Harriman
- 27Fagan
- 35Baxter
- Referee:
- Charles Breakspear
- Attendance:
- 11,591
Match Stats
Home TeamPrestonAway TeamGillingham
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 3, Gillingham 1.
Post update
Jack King (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Gillingham).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Neil Kilkenny (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. John Welsh (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Connor Smith (Gillingham).
Post update
Attempt missed. Chris Humphrey (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Neil Kilkenny (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Dack (Gillingham).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Craig Davies (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
John Welsh (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Connor Smith (Gillingham).
Post update
Attempt missed. Adebayo Akinfenwa (Gillingham) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Jack King.
Post update
Attempt saved. Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Adebayo Akinfenwa (Gillingham) header from a difficult angle on the left is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Bradley Dack replaces Jake Hessenthaler.
Post update
Foul by John Welsh (Preston North End).
