Ainsworth shares fans’ frustration as Gillingham are beaten 4–1 at home by Grimsby

Sunday 25 October 2026 · By Roger Cowperthwaite

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth said he was as frustrated as the supporters after a 4–1 home defeat by Grimsby Town on Saturday. The Gills had drawn level before half-time but conceded three goals in the second half at Priestfield.

Grimsby went ahead after seven minutes when Harvey Rodgers hit a first-time shot from 25 yards into the top corner. Gillingham hit back before the break. Garath McCleary played a pass in behind for Ronan Hale, who slotted in from a narrow angle.

The game turned early in the second half. Armani Little was penalised for a foul on Kieran Green, and Iwan Morgan scored the penalty. Geza Turi added a third from close range, and substitute Sonny Finch completed the scoring after a through ball from Turi.

“I’m as frustrated as them,” Ainsworth told KentOnline. “I went in there and let the players have it because that wasn’t good enough for me. I pride myself on being a winner. We didn’t have enough winners out there. The fans have got every right to voice their frustrations.”

He felt the penalty changed everything. “I didn’t see it coming, if I’m honest, at half-time. I thought we probably edged it at half-time,” he said. “It changes with the penalty. I think it’s a poor penalty to concede, and we never got a foothold back in the game.” He added: “They put the ball in our goal four times, and that’s not acceptable at home.”

Ainsworth also gave credit to the visitors. “They’re a good side, believe me,” he said. “We weren’t good enough in duels and tackles and headers, and we didn’t test them enough.”

The defeat drops Gillingham to 12th on 17 points from 13 games. They had started the day seventh, so the margins in the middle of the table are very fine. They are two points outside the play-off places.

There are signs that help is on the way. Speaking to KentOnline before the game, Ainsworth said captain Liam Gordon was back running on the grass. He said getting him back before Christmas would be “realistic” and “a huge bonus”. He also named Will Goodwin, Zane Albarus and Sam Tabares as “really close” to returning.

There was less positive news on two others. “Eli and Kadeem won’t be back before Christmas, I can safely say that,” Ainsworth said of Eli King and Kadeem Harris. He added that King was seeing a surgeon.

Gillingham’s next league game is at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday 31 October, kick-off 3pm GMT. Shrewsbury drew 3–3 at Rotherham United on Saturday.

In the FA Cup first round, Gillingham host Barrow. That tie was not picked for television, so it is due to kick off at 3pm GMT on Saturday 7 November unless the FA changes it. They then travel to Northampton Town in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 10 November, kick-off 7pm GMT.

Ainsworth’s message to the supporters was a promise to respond. “I want to give them something to shout about,” he said. “Hopefully, we can do that next week.”

Priestfield Stadium

Priestfield Stadium has been Gillingham’s home since 1893. For visiting supporters it is a compact, residential ground rather than a modern bowl: four distinct stands, a tight walk from Gillingham station, and an away allocation that is usually in the uncovered Brian Moore Stand behind the western goal. Capacity is around 11,500. Postcode ME7 4DD. The pitch runs roughly east–west, so you will be looking along the length of the field from either end.

Away fans are normally housed in the Brian Moore Stand, a temporary seated structure on the old Town End. It is all-seater and decent for sightlines, but it has no roof. Bring a coat. In winter it can be miserable; the club has been known to hand out rain macs when it pours. Allocation is typically about 1,500, often on the Medway Stand side of that end. For some fixtures a small covered block of around 200 seats is offered in the Gordon Road Stand instead. Check your ticket: Gordon Road entry is covered and warmer, but pillars can spoil the view if you sit high and towards the back.

Turnstiles for the Brian Moore Stand and Gordon Road are on Gordon Road. Home fans in the Medway Stand and Rainham End use Redfern Avenue. Visiting supporters have also been directed via Priestfield Road depending on the fixture, so follow stewarding and the club’s travel notes on the day. Turnstiles usually open about two hours before kick-off on a Saturday and later for midweek evenings. Gillingham station is the nearest rail stop: leave the station, pick up Priestfield Road, and the ground is a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk.

Opposite you, behind the eastern goal, is the Rainham End. That is the noisy home end: a single-tier covered stand of about 2,400, rebuilt in 1999. Along the north touchline sits the Medway Stand, opened in 2000, two tiers with a row of boxes between them. Changing rooms, offices, tunnel and dugouts are on that side. Facing it on the south side is the Gordon Road Stand from 1997: lower because of planning limits on nearby houses, narrower towards one end, with a television gantry on the roof and several supporting pillars. Avoid the back rows there if you want a clean view of both goals.

Views from the Brian Moore Stand are honest rather than spectacular. You see three modern stands and the full width of the pitch, with the home support concentrated to your right in the Rainham End if you are facing the field from the west. Atmosphere in the away end can feel thin because the stand is open and slightly detached; singing travels better when the allocation is packed towards the Medway corner. Do not expect a roof to bounce the noise back.

Food and drink inside are standard lower-league fare: pies, burgers, tea and beer at kiosks. Cash and card are usually both accepted. A printed programme is often sold outside. Flags are generally allowed if they do not block gangways; place them where stewards ask. There is limited mixing immediately around the away turnstiles. In town, the Will Adams has a reputation as a pub where home and away fans can drink without much fuss, but treat that as a starting point rather than a guarantee on a high-profile night.

Parking around the ground is residential and fills quickly. If you drive, allow extra time and be ready to walk the last stretch. Disabled visiting supporters should contact the club in advance; facilities for away fans sit near match control rather than in every stand. Wheelchair provision is limited in parts of Gordon Road and some Medway blocks.

Priestfield is not a destination stadium in the modern sense. It is a rebuilt 1990s ground still waiting for a permanent west stand, tucked into streets in Medway. Arrive early, dress for an open end, know whether your ticket is Brian Moore or Gordon Road, and you will have a straightforward away day watching Gillingham from behind the correct goal.