Gillingham vs Chesterfield. Sky Bet League One.
Priestfield StadiumAttendance6,841.
Saturday 20 December 2014 18:53, UK
Jimmy Ryan struck a 69th-minute winner as Chesterfield edged a five-goal thriller to beat Gillingham 3-2 at Priestfield Stadium.
Midfielder Ryan capped a pulsating second-half that saw four goals scored, with Gills pair Cody McDonald and John Egan responding to Sam Clucas' first-half opener and Leon Legge's own goal after the break. Ryan, 26, fired home a well-executed volley for the final goal of the match with 21 minutes left as the Spireites also won in the league for the first time in a month. Clucas put the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute from an acute angle, albeit with the help of a deflection off Gills defender Egan. The visitors doubled their advantage when the luckless Legge diverted Tendayi Darikwa's blasted cross into his own net nine minutes after half-time. However the Gills scored twice in 180 seconds to draw themselves level - substitute McDonald heading in from Joe Martin's pin-point delivery before Egan followed suit from Doug Loft's cross. McDonald should have levelled the game with the last kick of the match after Ryan had put Chesterfield back in front, but volleyed wide when through on goal from 12 yards.
