Gillingham 2 Argyle 3
ARGYLE are still the only unbeaten side in the EFL Merit League Two after this victory in Kent moved them to within two points of leaders MK Dons, and with a game in hand.
The Pilgrims should have won the encounter by a larger margin but their finishing let them down on occasion. Thankfully, they took more of their chances than the Gills.
It was a lively start from Argyle with Klaidi Lolos lobbing a fraction off target before seeing his crisp drive fly just wide of the home goal. The Gills replied with a header over Harry Townsend's bar and a long-range shot that flew wide of the visiting goal.
Lolos and Rio Garside both had attempts disallowed either side of Aaron Goulty's fine effort that brought a good save out of the home custodian. Lolos then saw his goal-bound effort deflected wide for a corner, which led to an Adam Randall shot flying just wide.
Argyle's luck changed in the final minute of the half with Lolos making a great turn past his marker before rounding the goalkeeper and sliding the ball home.
The first five minutes of the second half saw Randall, Garside, Jude Boyd and Lolos all go close to increasing Argyle's lead and it was against the run-of-play that the home side equalised on 53 minutes.
Argyle required five minutes to restore their lead with Randall winning the ball in midfield to combine with Tom Purrington before finding Lolos, who laid the ball off for Goulty to score with a fierce left-foot drive.
Once again, Gillingham responded with a goal scored at the far post but Argyle sealed a deserved victory on 77 minutes, as Goulty's fine left-wing run and cross found Lolos heading home via the underside of the crossbar.
Argyle had further chances to score before the final whistle, leaving Academy Director Kevin Hodges to say: “We were deserved winners but, unfortunately, allowed the Gills to keep themselves in the game by not converting our chances.”
Argyle: Harry Townsend, Isaac Burdon, Reuben Collum (Andy Burn 57), Tom Purrington, Ollie Tomlinson, Michael Peck, Aaron Goulty, Adam Randell, Klaidi Lolos, Rio Garside, Jude Boyd. Substitutes (not used): Jarvis Cleal, Rubin Wilson.