Gillingham 2 Huddersfield Town 1

GILLINGHAM got their League 1 campaign off to the perfect start on Saturday with an excellent 2-1 victory over Huddersfield at Priestfield.

With the visitors being hotly tipped for promotion it was a fine three points for Ronnie Jepson's side.

Goals from Matt Jarvis and debutant striker Dean McDonald won the game, but it was the nature of the performance that caught the eye and should fill the squad with confidence.

The goal the Gills threatened came on 57 minutes when Jarvis was found on the left-hand side by McDonald, before outpacing Jonathan Worthington and keeping his composure to beat visiting keeper Matthew Glennon.

Danny Schofield almost snatched an equaliser for Huddersfield against the run of play just two minutes later but his close range effort was parried by debutant keeper Kelvin Jack.

But the Gills deservedly doubled their advantage in the 67th minute when McDonald, the provider of the first goal, turned goalscorer to convert a cross from fellow debutant Duncan Jupp.

The visitors set up a tense finish when Gary Taylor-Fletcher pulled one back from close range with nine minutes to play, but Gillingham were able to hold out.

Jepson made sure his team was quick out of the blocks and they dominated the game from the start, with skipper Michael Flynn and Andrew Crofts particularly impressive in central midfield.

Flynn tested Glennon from distance early on before Crofts' clever reverse pass sent McDonald through, but the keeper was out quickly to deny him.

The home side almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time but Mark Bentley's free header was well saved.

Jarvis forced a save out of Glennon after a surging run and shot early in the second half, before Danny Jackman's goalbound effort was deflected wide on 52 minutes.

Gillingham: Jack, Jupp, Cox, Sancho, Jackman, Bentley, Flynn, Crofts, Jarvis (Spiller 84), Mulligan, McDonald (Ndumbu-Nsungu 86).
Subs not used: Easton, Johnson, Pouton.
Attendance: 6,075.

* Full match report, reaction and pictures in Monday's Medway Messenger.