Gillingham 0 Newport 2: Cheye Alexander at fault for two penalties that Omar Bogle converts in League 2 match at Priestfield | Spectator arrested and issued lifetime ban after first-half incident
Gillingham were beaten by lowly Newport after conceding two penalties and there was trouble off the pitch too.
Striker Omar Bogle converted both spot-kicks for the visitors, but there was a delay in restarting the match when the first was scored, after alleged racist abuse was aimed towards the goalscorer from the home end.
There was widespread condemnation and anger following the incident at Priestfield from within the stands as a spectator was led away by the stewards.
The Gills were quick to dish out an immediate lifetime ban to an individual who they announced had been arrested. Kent Police later said a man in his 20s was taken into police custody following a report of racist abuse.
Gills were recently handed a fine by the FA and told to implement an action plan to eradicate abuse inside the stadium. That came after three incidents last season, involving racist and sexist comments.
The club had given fans repetitive warnings over further trouble at Priestfield but are still searching for an individual who threw an object at the Notts County keeper and now this.
It marred another game at Priestfield.
On the field, the Gills were looking to build on their midweek win at Swindon against a Newport side who had lost their previous four away games in a row, starting the afternoon sitting 19th in the table.
An early chance fell to Macauley Bonne but he couldn’t finish with only goalkeeper Nick Townsend to beat. Mahoney had prodded the ball into his path.
Goalkeeper Jake Turner pulled off a great double save to deny Bryn Morris and then Bogle as the visitors showed they weren’t there to make up the numbers.
Gillingham’s reasonable start quickly crumbled as they conceded two penalties in quick succession. Cheye Alexander was at fault for the first and penalised for a shove which led to the second. This came just days after missing a penalty at Swindon.
Alexander’s wayward backpass to keeper Turner led to the Gills stopper making a rash challenge on Bogle and the same player got up to plant the subsequent spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
It was while celebrating the 20th minute goal infront of the Rainham End that an incident occurred and a delay to the restart.
Seven minutes later Bogle tucked the ball away into the opposite corner, sending Turner the wrong way from another penalty. This one was a bit more debatable as Alexander was penalised for a shoulder barge on Matty Bondswell.
Bogle once again celebrated infront of the fans.
The Gills came close to getting a goal back when Mahoney’s shot from 25 yards crashed off the bar and late in the half the same player put in an inviting cross that Jonny Williams headed wide, when well placed.
Jonny Williams put an effort into the side netting early in the second half and had strong claims for a penalty when he went over in the box following a challenge from behind, but referee Tom Reeves said play on.
