Michael Smith scored a hat-trick as Accrington Stanley beat Gillingham in their first game without John Coleman in charge for 13 years.

It took them just 45 seconds to score, with Smith tapping home before Danny Jackman's 25-yard free-kick leveller.

Smith scored from the edge of the box and Luke Joyce netted from 20 yards before Smith's third from close range.

Gills pulled one back when Gavin Tomlin nipped in to fire home and he then rifled home to ensure a nervy ending.

Stanley held on for the final five minutes as Leam Richardson started his spell as caretaker boss with a win, following Coleman's move to Rochdale on Tuesday.

But it was 20-year-old Smith, one of Coleman's last signings earlier this month, who stole the headlines.

The loan signing from Charlton, who started the season at Darlington, opened the scoring from Padraig Amond's cross, added his second with a low shot which snuck in and, after assisting Joyce's goal, converted Peter Murphy's cross for his hat-trick.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent:

"We worked this week on defending as a group, and we went out there and did the opposite to what we've worked on all week.

"I was speechless at half-time and we did not see that coming.

"I'm not just blaming the back four, it's about the whole team. The goals we conceded in the first half came when we had the ball.

"If people are not going to listen to what we want them to do, and what we are telling them leading up to a game then they won't be in the team. It's not acceptable."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Accrington Stanley

  • 25 Dunbavin
  • 02 Coid Booked
  • 03 Winnard
  • 05 Nsiala
  • 12 Murphy
  • 11 Joyce Booked
  • 14 McIntyre
  • 27 Hughes (Barnett - 71' )
  • 19 Evans
  • 21 Smith Booked
  • 23 Amond (Craney - 84' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Murdoch
  • 18 Willis
  • 08 Barnett
  • 10 Craney
  • 09 Guthrie

Gillingham

  • 01 Flitney (Gazzaniga - 46' )
  • 03 Frampton
  • 06 Richards
  • 12 Martin
  • 18 Jackman
  • 04 Lee
  • 08 Payne (Weston - 46' Booked )
  • 19 Montrose
  • 09 Kedwell
  • 33 Kuffour
  • 39 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 28 Gazzaniga
  • 05 King
  • 10 Weston
  • 21 Rance
  • 31 Miller
Ref: Rushton
Att: 1,734

Match Stats

Shots

13 6

On target

7 4

Corners

7 3

Fouls

11 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:02

Ian Craney takes a shot. Save by Paulo Gazzaniga. Short corner taken by Ian Craney.

90:00 +5:06

The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +4:02

Ian Craney takes a shot. Save made by Paulo Gazzaniga. Short corner worked by Ian Craney,

90:00 +2:58

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Jackman from the right by-line to the near post.

90:00 +2:19

Danny Jackman takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:19 Booking

Booking Danny Coid is given a yellow card.

90:00 +2:14

Unfair challenge on Jo Kuffour by Danny Coid results in a free kick.

90:00 +1:10

Danny Kedwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Aristote Nsiala. Ian Dunbavin takes the indirect free kick.

87:47

Michael Smith is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

87:34 Booking

Booking Michael Smith is shown a yellow card.

87:28

Ian Craney produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.

85:21

Kevin McIntyre concedes a free kick for a foul on Curtis Weston. Indirect free kick taken by Danny Jackman.

84:17 Booking

Booking Caution for Luke Joyce.

84:06

Assist on the goal came from Curtis Weston.

84:06 Goal scored

Goal - Gavin Tomlin - Accrington 4 - 3 Gillingham Gavin Tomlin grabs a goal from just inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 4-3 Gillingham.

83:16 Substitution

Substitution Padraig Amond goes off and Ian Craney comes on.

81:49

Corner taken right-footed by Charlie Barnett from the right by-line, Danny Coid takes a shot. Save made by Paulo Gazzaniga. Corner from the left by-line taken by Charlie Barnett, Paulo Gazzaniga makes a save.

79:58

The official flags Danny Kedwell offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

72:20

Foul by Micah Evans on Charlie Lee, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Charlie Lee.

69:33 Substitution

Substitution Charlie Barnett comes on in place of Bryan Hughes.

69:33

Assist by Jo Kuffour.

69:33 Goal scored

Goal - Gavin Tomlin - Accrington 4 - 2 Gillingham Goal scored by Gavin Tomlin from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 4-2 Gillingham.

67:56 Booking

Booking The referee books Curtis Weston for unsporting behaviour.

65:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Padraig Amond by Garry Richards. Kevin McIntyre restarts play with the free kick.

64:21

Close range effort by Jo Kuffour clears the crossbar.

63:10

Padraig Amond challenges Garry Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Danny Jackman takes the free kick.

62:09

Andy Frampton fouled by Padraig Amond, the ref awards a free kick. Paulo Gazzaniga restarts play with the free kick.

61:22

Foul by Danny Kedwell on Aristote Nsiala, free kick awarded. Ian Dunbavin takes the indirect free kick.

59:49

Lewis Montrose challenges Luke Joyce unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

59:21

Padraig Amond challenges Gavin Tomlin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Lee takes the indirect free kick.

57:41

The official flags Danny Kedwell offside. Ian Dunbavin takes the free kick.

52:37

Danny Kedwell takes a shot. Blocked by Bryan Hughes. Danny Jackman decides to take a short corner.

48:36

Danny Coid sends in a cross, save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

47:17

Danny Coid challenges Danny Kedwell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Jackman.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Curtis Weston coming on for Jack Payne.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Paulo Gazzaniga on for Ross Flitney.

45:00 +3:17

The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +2:34

Micah Evans concedes a free kick for a foul on Jack Payne. Free kick taken by Joe Martin.

45:00 +0:17

Peter Murphy provided the assist for the goal.

45:00 +0:17 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Smith - Accrington 4 - 1 Gillingham Michael Smith scores a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 4-1 Gillingham.

44:02

Effort on goal by Padraig Amond from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

41:18

Joe Martin challenges Micah Evans unfairly and gives away a free kick. Bryan Hughes takes the indirect free kick.

40:39

Bryan Hughes has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

37:32

Unfair challenge on Kevin McIntyre by Danny Kedwell results in a free kick. Ian Dunbavin takes the free kick.

35:07

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Bryan Hughes from the right by-line, clearance by Lewis Montrose.

30:46

Assist on the goal came from Michael Smith.

30:46 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Joyce - Accrington 3 - 1 Gillingham Luke Joyce grabs a goal from just outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 3-1 Gillingham.

28:13

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Bryan Hughes, Joe Martin makes a clearance. Corner taken by Bryan Hughes from the left by-line, Andy Frampton manages to make a clearance.

27:05

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Danny Jackman.

25:51

Michael Smith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Garry Richards. Garry Richards takes the indirect free kick.

25:21

Bryan Hughes takes a shot. Ross Flitney makes a save.

23:46

Micah Evans fouled by Joe Martin, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Bryan Hughes, Ross Flitney makes a save.

22:56

The ball is sent over by Charlie Lee, save made by Ian Dunbavin.

21:25

The assistant referee signals for offside against Micah Evans. Ross Flitney takes the indirect free kick.

20:54

Michael Smith takes a shot. Save made by Ross Flitney.

20:08

Andy Frampton concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Smith. Free kick taken by Bryan Hughes.

18:43

Assist by Peter Murphy.

18:43 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Smith - Accrington 2 - 1 Gillingham Michael Smith scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 2-1 Gillingham.

17:25

The referee blows for offside against Michael Smith. Ross Flitney takes the free kick.

15:46

Corner taken right-footed by Bryan Hughes, Charlie Lee makes a clearance.

14:46

Bryan Hughes takes a shot.

13:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Payne by Bryan Hughes. Ross Flitney takes the free kick.

12:18

Danny Coid takes a shot from long range which goes wide left of the goal.

11:14

Padraig Amond is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Ross Flitney.

9:09

Volleyed shot by Charlie Lee went over the goal.

0:45

The assist for the goal came from Padraig Amond.

0:45 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Smith - Accrington 1 - 0 Gillingham A goal is scored by Michael Smith from close in low into the middle of the goal. Accrington Stanley 1-0 Gillingham.

6:41

Assist by Jo Kuffour.

6:41 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Jackman - Accrington 1 - 1 Gillingham Danny Jackman hits the back of the net with a goal direct from the free kick from a long way out to the top right corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 1-1 Gillingham.

5:54

Kevin McIntyre gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jo Kuffour.

0:45

Assist on the goal came from Padraig Amond.

0:45 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Murphy - Accrington 1 - 0 Gillingham Goal scored by Peter Murphy from close in low into the middle of the goal. Accrington Stanley 1-0 Gillingham.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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