Elliott Nevitt netted for successive games for the first time in Gillingham colours as The Gills extended their unbeaten run to six games in a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield – a result that is a big dent in the home side’s Play Off dreams.
Nevitt drilled home his fifth goal of the season just before the quarter hour as he hammered Aaron Rowe’s cut back into the bottom corner of the net and gave The Gills a lead that they held until thirteen minutes from time when Will Grigg drilled a low shot beyond Glenn Morris to share the spoils.
An early collision between Morris and Remeao Hutton nearly gifted the home side the lead, but Sam Gale was on hand to bail his more experienced team-mates out of trouble as he cleared the Gills lines.
Nevitt drove the visitors ahead on fourteen minutes with an effort that left keeper Ryan Boot motionless as the Gills got on top of their hosts. Max Clark blazed over the bar whilst Nevitt was close to a second before the break but his shot – from an Amani Little corner – landed on the roof of the net.
Rowe tested Boot early in the second half with a low shot that Boot did well to hang onto, and it was almost as though it kick started the home side in their quest for Play Off points. Ash Palmer headed a good opportunity over before quite how Michael Olakigbe didn’t level only he will know as he blazed high over the bar from six yards out.
Joe Gbode did well to hold off a defender but shot wide when well-placed and as the home side went in search of an equaliser, Liam Mandeville curled a free kick high over the bar and Grigg fired wide but with thirteen minutes left, the Chesterfield striker levelled – John Flack and Ryan Colclough combined well and as the ball fell to Grigg he swept the ball before Morris could react.
The Gills were almost back in front immediately, but Gbode couldn’t reach Nevitt’s knock down from Jack Nolan’s cross and as the home side pressed every desperately for the win, Gillingham’s ever improving back line held firm and the points were shared.
Gareth Ainsworth still then awaits his first three points since taking the manager’s chair after now four draws in a row – could it come at the weekend when MK Dons head for MEMS Priestfield?
Chesterfield: Boot, Mandeville, Gordon, Palmer, McFadzean (Grimes 68), Fleck, Metcalfe (Dobra 68), Duffy (Colclough 67), Olakigbe, Madden (Banks 80), Grigg (Pepple 87).
Subs not used: Thompson, Naylor.
Goal: Grigg (77).
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Gale, Masterson, Ogie, Little, J Williams (McKenzie 79mins), Rowe (Nolan 68), Nevitt, Gbode (Morgan 86).
Subs not used: Holtam, E Williams, Agbinone, Hawkins.
Goal: Nevitt (14).
Booked: Gale (48), Rowe (65).
Referee: Martin Woods
Attendance: 7,810 (340 Gills)
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.