Disappointing League One debut for Accrington

Posted Sunday, August 05, 2018 by PA

First-half goals from Brandon Hanlan and Josh Parker spoilt Accrington’s first game in Sky Bet League One as Gillingham won 2-0.

The League Two champions are playing in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1960 but the Gills were clinical, inflicting Stanley’s first defeat at home in 2018.

Stanley’s Jonny Maxted was the first goalkeeper in action, pulling off a diving save to deny Mark Byrne in the seventh minute.

At the other end, Sean McConville’s header beat keeper Tomas Holy but Max Ehmer headed off the line.

The Gills took the lead on 23 minutes when Hanlan fired home from close range after getting on the end of a Regan Charles-Cook cross.

Gillingham piled on the pressure and they made it two on 43 minutes. Luke O’Neill played in a cross from the right and Parker’s diving header beat Maxted.

Stanley tried to get back in the game in the second half – Scott Brown’s goalbound shot hit his own player, Offrande Zanzala headed over and Ross Sykes had a header cleared off the line – but they could not find a way through.