Accrington edge Gills thriller

The post-John Coleman era at Accrington got off to a winning start as Accrington Stanley edged past Gillingham 4-3.

Coleman this week left the Crown Ground after 13 years to join Rochdale and caretaker boss Leam Richardson will not want too many games like this as his side almost squandered a 4-1 lead. Accrington needed just 45 seconds to break the deadlock. A poor throw from Gills goalkeeper Ross Flitney went straight to Padraig Amond, who raced down left and played in a cross from which Michael Smith - on his home debut on loan from Charlton - tapped home. It was all square after seven minutes when Danny Jackman's 25-yard free-kick levelled for the Gills. But Stanley regained the lead when Peter Murphy set up Smith on the edge of area and his low shot sneaked into the bottom of the net beyond the diving Flitney. Number three came after 31 minutes as Smith turned provider to set up Luke Joyce 20 yards out. And, in a cracking game, Murphy's right-wing cross found Smith unmarked to tap home for his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. Gillingham pulled one back after 70 minutes when a mistake by home 'keeper Ian Dunbavin allowed Gavin Tomlin to nip in and fire home, before the on-loan forward registered his second brace in as many games since his arrival. But it was not to be as the Gills fell to a 4-3 defeat for the second successive weekend.