Gillingham returned home from Cumbria with another point as John Coleman’s side edged a point closer to safety after a goal-less draw at Carlisle United. 

The point sees the Gills maintain nineteenth place in the division but extends the buffer zone between Coleman’s side and the bottom two to eight points with the Kent side having two games in hand of Morecambe and Carlisle. 

A point that could easily have been more as Elliott Nevitt’s drive came back off the underside of the bar, and a point that on another day would have stayed in Cumbria as Glenn Morris’s truly magnificent late save kept the point on the Gills team bus for the return trip to Kent. 

The game with chances at both ends – Andy Smith testing home keeper Gabe Breeze early on whilst Morris saved well from Kadeem Harris – before Nevitt rattled the frame of the Carlisle goal. After Breeze spilled the returning Joe Gbode’s cross, Nevitt reacted quickest only for his shot to bounce straight back into the arms of a very relieved keeper’s arms. 

Robbie McKenzie’s diving header was next to test the Carlisle keeper and an entertaining half – played remember by two of the lowest scoring teams in the League – ended with Matt Dennis clearing Morris’ bar. 

Dennis missed another opportunity early in the second half before the home goal had another massive let off. McKenzie and Gbode combined well but as the ball went into the home box, defenders and keepers got in each other’s way but there wasn’t a yellow Gills short to take advantage of the mistake and the ball was hacked to safety. 

Nevitt was then denied what Gillingham eyes were certain was a cast iron penalty. Gbode played his strike partner through and as he went to round Breeze, the keeper “appeared” to make contact with the Gills man but the only man that mattered – referee Jackson – waved away the loud appeals that were backed by an incredible away following that topped 400! 

As the half wore on, the home side came more and more into it, and Morris came more and more to the fore. The Gills keeper saved well from Harris’ drive which although was straight at Morris, the keeper did well to hold on. Joe Hugill was then denied bravely by Morris after wriggling thought, before “The Cat” lived up to his nick-name as he pulled off a sensational save to keep out Stephen Wearne’s header that looked destined for the top corner. 

Another point for the Gills and John Coleman – now for two games at MEMS Priestfield and hopefully those first three points and an end to the winless run which now stands at twelve. So, will it be lucky thirteen for the Gills and finally a first win of 2025? 

CARLISLE UNITED – Breeze, Davies (Ellis), Thomas, Lavelle, Harper, Guy (Patching), Whelan, Bevan (Scott), Embleton (Wearne), Harris, Dennis (Hugill) 

Subs – Lewis, Hayden  

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Smith, Ehmer, Gale, Max Clark, Little, McKenzie, Corness (Dack), Nevitt (Khumbeni), Gbode (Hawkins) 

Subs – Turner, Nolan, Jayden Clarke, Morgan 

REFEREE – Mr. Jackson 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC