[ 13 Dec 25 ] GILLS v Barrow AFC Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills lead the wins over Barrow by 12 wins to 8 and a further 6 games were drawn. The home side have won each of the last 5 meetings (the last 4 all with clean sheets) and the away side last won 9 games ago - Barrow's 1-0 win at Priestfield in February 1970.
- The Gills are unbeaten in 4 home games against Barrow, winning the last 2. They have lost just 1 of the previous 8 home games against Barrow and won 5 of them.
- Barrow started the season with 8 defeats in their opening 10 league and cup games. Despite just 4 defeats in the 15 games that followed, Barrow parted company with Andy Whing after a winless run of 6 games in all competitions.
- Barrow are 1 of 3 sides in League 2 with 8 blank sheets, the most in the division, however only 3 have come in their away games. Since their last away blank sheet, Barrow's last 7 league games have seen 2 home blank sheets and 4 games in which they scored 2 goals.
- Barrow are 1 of 5 sides (which includes the Gills) to have taken 3 away leads in League 2, the fewest amount in the division. However, when they take a lead, they stay ahead for the longest period of time averaging 64.7 minutes per lead.
- Barrow have only been behind for a total of 47 minutes in their last 5 away league games but these have come from 2 deficits in each of their last 2 games. The Gills have only been ahead for 34 minutes in their last 5 home league games, also coming from 2 leads (in 1 game).
- Barrow have both conceded the fewest number of fouls in League 2 (208) and won the fewest (164) in the division also. They have won 41 (the most being 10 in a game) in their last 6 games whilst the Gills have given away 43 (the fewest being 11) in their last 3 games. The previous 8 games saw 110 Gills fouls conceded and 57 Barrow fouls won.

[Sat 13th December 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Barrow AFC
Opposition Manager: Neil McDonald (interim coach) Matchday Team: Wyll Stanway, Lewis Shipley, [c] MJ.Williams, Charlie Raglan, Ben Jackson (Elliot Newby), Charlie McCann, Kane Hemmings, Jack Earing (Scott Smith), Josh Gordon, Tom Barkhuizen (Conor Mahoney), Ben Whitfield (David Worrall)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (18th)
Referee: Farai Hallam
Attendance: 5,500 (76)

(15.01) Kick Off [ 5 - 3 - 2 ] - Gareth Ainsworth back in the dug out
(15.14) A clever Gills corner by Dack catches out the keeper. Rowe robs the ball from the rebound and blazes over from close range.
(15.22) A Gills clearance puts McCleary through with only a defender and the advancing keeper in the half. The keeper charges out, collides with the defender and a foul is given against McCleary!
(15.25) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Barrow AFC: Earing (og)
(15.29) GOAL! Gillingham 2-0 Barrow AFC: Rowe
(15.31) How is it not 3?! McCleary weaves into the box, drills it into the 6 yard box where Nevitt only needs to tap home but somehow puts it wide. He falls heavily inside the goal and requires treatment.
(15.37) A good strike from Akomeah from around 20 yards out goes just wide of the left post.
(15.46) McCleary receives a through ball, waits and forces a good save from Stanway. The rebound to the other side almost reaches Dack before it's cleared.
(15.47) A minimum of 4 minutes will be added.
(15.51) Half time 2-0

(16.06) The second half kicks off.
(16.20) From a long throw, McKenzie on the half volley puts it into the side netting and the Gordon Road side of the ground thought it was in.
(16.18) GOAL! Gillingham 2-1 Barrow AFC: Gordon
(16.40) Barrow find space in the penalty area. A shot goes through some legs and deflects off a Barrow foot for a goal kick. It could have gone anywhere.
(16.43) GOAL! Gillingham 2-1 Barrow AFC: Gordon
(16.51) The 4th official signals for a minimum of 4 additional minutes. Moments later, Khumbeni receives lengthy treatment. The Gills will finish with 10 men.
(16.58) FULL TIME 2-2

Gills' League Position After Game: 10th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4g4zq5jx2nt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoIN1QDROLw