Lambourn Town AFC Secure 3-1 Victory Over Gillingham At Home

Lambourn Town AFC welcomed Gillingham to their home ground in Lambourn on 12 December 2025, with kick-off at midday. In front of a crowd of 20,186, the hosts emerged victorious in a lively league encounter, winning 3-1 after a competitive 90 minutes plus injury time. The match was officiated impeccably by referee Simon, whose performance was flawless throughout.

Lambourn Town lined up in a classic 4-4-2 formation, deploying Daniel Carter in goal. The defensive line consisted of Alexander Cole at right back, Andrew Patel and Anthony Wallace as central defenders, and Benjamin Stone on the left flank. In midfield, Henry Collins operated on the right wing, Joseph Miller and Lucas Bennett held the central midfield roles, while James Holloway took up the left midfield position. Up front, the strike partnership featured Adrian Foster on the right and David Mackay on the left. The substitutes named were William Parker and Oliver Grant.

This 4-4-2 setup was designed to provide balance across the pitch, with full-backs expected to support both defence and attack, central midfielders tasked with controlling the tempo and distributing the ball, and wingers providing width and service to the forwards. The two strikers were anticipated to combine for goals and apply pressure on Gillingham’s defence.

The match began with Lambourn Town showing intent, although an early offside call against David Mackay at the 12th minute for a mistimed run halted a promising move. Three minutes later, Mackay came close to opening the scoring when his effort struck the crossbar, signalling his threat in the attacking third.

Lambourn Town broke the deadlock in the 17th minute through David Mackay, who capitalised on a goalmouth scramble following a corner delivered by James Holloway. Mackay’s close-range header was a testament to his positioning and aerial prowess. The hosts quickly doubled their advantage just four minutes later when Joseph Miller played a precise long pass to Holloway, who unleashed a powerful right-footed strike from outside the box, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

The game’s physicality was evident when Lucas Bennett committed a late tackle in the 26th minute, though no penalty was awarded. As the first half progressed, Lambourn Town maintained control and went into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The second half saw Lambourn Town continue their attacking momentum. In the 62nd minute, James Holloway scored his second goal of the match with a spectacular overhead kick from outside the box, expertly assisted by David Mackay’s cross. This goal showcased the technical skill and creativity within the Lambourn ranks.

Shortly after, tactical changes were made with William Parker replacing David Mackay in the 64th minute. However, Gillingham responded immediately, pulling a goal back in the 65th minute through a close-range header following a goalmouth scramble, injecting renewed urgency into the contest.

Daniel Carter was called into action in the 74th minute, confidently catching a dangerous cross to prevent Gillingham from equalising. Defensive adjustments followed with Oliver Grant coming on for Andrew Patel in the 81st minute, aiming to shore up the backline and preserve the lead.

Despite Gillingham’s efforts, Lambourn Town held firm and secured a well-deserved 3-1 victory. The home side’s blend of tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and solid defending ensured all three points were retained in Lambourn.