Match ends, Oxford United 1, Gillingham 0.
Oxford stretched their unbeaten league run to seven games with victory over Gillingham in an open encounter at the Kassam Stadium.
James Henry hit the winner from the penalty spot after 59 minutes - after Marcus Browne was brought down - for his fifth goal of the season.
Browne raced on to Cameron Brannagan's pass into the box and reached the ball just before Tomas Holy, but he tumbled over the goalkeeper's body.
Referee Neil Hair pointed for a spot-kick, despite strong protests from the Gillingham players, and Henry converted it confidently into the top-left corner.
Henry also hit the post with a right-footed shot in the 77th minute from Browne's deep cross.
Ricky Holmes had been Oxford's main threat in the first half, twice forcing decent saves from Holy with low shots.
But the Gills began the second half strongly and, after Brandon Hanlan went close with an angled drive, U's keeper Simon Eastwood denied Regan Charles-Cook.
Late on Hanlan went close again with a 25-yard drive that Eastwood saved to his right.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Eastwood
- 23Long
- 4Dickie
- 5Nelson
- 14Ruffels
- 8BrannaganBooked at 40mins
- 15Mousinho
- 10BrowneBooked at 83mins
- 17Henry
- 12HolmesSubstituted forHansonat 56'minutes
- 9SmithSubstituted forBradburyat 56'minutesBooked at 89mins
Substitutes
- 2Norman
- 6Hanson
- 22Raglan
- 41Mitchell
- 43Lopes
- 44Spasov
- 45Bradbury
Gillingham
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 1Holy
- 2O'Neill
- 5Ehmer
- 6ZakuaniBooked at 73mins
- 12Fuller
- 16Bingham
- 15List
- 11Charles-Cook
- 33Byrne
- 7Hanlan
- 9Eaves
Substitutes
- 4Lacey
- 20Oldaker
- 23Mbo
- 24Rees
- 25Stevenson
- 30Hadler
- 34Ogilvie
- Referee:
- Neil Hair
- Attendance:
- 6,628
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away17
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Gillingham 0.
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Foul by Jamie Hanson (Oxford United).
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Mark Byrne (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Gabriel Zakuani.
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Marcus Browne (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Regan Charles-Cook (Gillingham).
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John Mousinho (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Tom Eaves (Gillingham).
Booking
Harvey Bradbury (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Harvey Bradbury (Oxford United).
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Max Ehmer (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Marcus Browne (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Sam Long (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Brandon Hanlan (Gillingham).
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Foul by Josh Ruffels (Oxford United).
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Elliott List (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Gabriel Zakuani (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Harvey Bradbury (Oxford United).
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Attempt missed. Regan Charles-Cook (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.