COVENTRY CITY 2-1 GILLINGHAM
City:Murphy (GK), Adams, Christie, Webster, J. Clarke, Fleck, Thomas, Moussa (Willis 88), Baker (c) (Manset 71), Wilson, L. Clarke. Subs: Burge (GK), Haynes, Barton, Daniels, Garner.
Gillingham: Nelson (GK), Harriman (Muggleton 88), Martin, Legge, Barrett (c), Allen, Linganzi, Hollands (Akinfenwa 88), Weston, Kedwell, McDonald. (Gregory 78). Subs: Howard (GK), Davies, Dack, Hessenthaler.
HT CCFC 1-1 GFC FT CCFC 2-1 GFC ATT 2046
Goals Leon Clarke 1, Cody McDonald 9, Franck Moussa 81
Referee T.Kettle Booked Adams, Nelson, Barratt
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Coventry City had to work but took a 2-1 win over Gillingham at Sixfields to move out of the relegation zone.
Fielding a side unchanged from the 2-0 win over Colchester United, the Sky Blues got off to a great start when Cyrus Christie went straight down the right and crossed for Leon Clarke to score from ten yards after only 56 seconds.
Former Sky Blue Cody McDonald played for Gillingham and the striker deemed surplus not fitting the DNA he was looking for by Steven Pressley forced Murphy into a brilliant save diving to his left to concede a fifth minute corner, which was followed by the City keeper getting down to a Danny Kedwell shot.
In the ninth minute, Gillingham drew level when Cody McDonald was left totally unmarked following a corner to score from six yards. McDonald to his credit, did not celebrate his goal and just raised his arms before being pounced on by delighted team mates.
The glove wearing Leon Clarke then broke and won a corner, which was cleared and then cleared following good work from Andy Webster, who had a fine game.
The attacks continued with Callum Wilson forcing Stuart Nelson into a wonderful save before blasting over the rebound.
McDonald had the ball in the net with a wonderful finish after the whistle had long gone before Gills Boss Martin Allen had the City support including seventy or so on the hill raging after trying to stop City trying to take a quick throw.
Gillingham were preferring to play the aerial ball rather than on the deck which was clearly suffering from rain and a Northampton game but they did have one good chance just before the half hour mark when Myles Weston drove across Murphy's goal.
Any game refereed by Mr Trevor Kettle normally throws up something for the fans to get worked up about and after a handball was not given, a City free kick saw the City supporters on their feet and then claiming that the referee did not know what he was doing after doing nothing when Wilson was through and stopped the edge of the area.
Moussa headed over a 34th minute corner. Another followed two minutes later with the hard working Moussa having a shot blocked.
In the 38th minute, there was yet another corner for City and Nelson made a great save to deny Jordan Clarke after a corner had been won much to the disgust of 341 or so the Gillingham fans, who were joined by the City support, the handful of Northampton fans and management in condemning an offside decision given by the assistant on the West Stand side.
Clarke fired at Nelson before the half watched again by Micky Adams and one time interested buyer Michael Byng.
The second half started with Nelson pushing over a Leon Clarke shot from six yards.
Conor Thomas played in a slide rule pass for Leon Clarke but he fluffed his shot and the ball went out for a goal kick.
City's first attack of the second half should have produced a penalty when Callum Wilson went down but nothing was done and this allowed Gillingham to have a 51st minute chance at the other end following a foul by Blair Adams who was cautioned.
Cark Baker fired at Nelson and the Gills won a corner in a game, which now needed a goal. Baker hit the post after creating space in the 59th minute but . Martin Allen had his side close down the space and Callum Wilson and Leon Clarke stopped finding room to get in shots in the final third.
Jordan Clarke, who again marked well and defended valiantly, did slice one over his own bar for a corner but was back in straight away, helping to ensure that the danger was cleared on a grey cold afternoon.
Moussa hit a rasping shot in the 71st minute which Nelson pushed over for a corner, a minute before Mathieu Manset came on for Carl Baker, Clarke missed a sitter and Martin Allen again contributed to some time wasting.
There was some warm applause when Cody McDonald was replaced by Steven Gregory but as Micky Adams and a scout with a Newcastle coat on left, good work from Wilson won a corner. The flag kick came in and there was Franck Moussa to lift the ball high into the net with nine minutes remaining.
That goal and a good performance saw Franck Moussa named as the Sponsors Man Of The Match but he was taken off with two minutes to go and Jordan Willis came on to help ensure City recorded another welcome win, which City boss Steven Pressley and his staff duly celebrated by fisting the air.