Gillingham began their Christmas campaign with Stephen Clemence’s first point away from Priestfield as the club’s first ever game with Forest Green Rovers ended in a goalless draw. 

With the home side naming former Watford and Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney as their new manager just days before the Friday night encounter, the Gills Head Coach admitted before the game, that the home sides formation would be unpredictable, and after a first half when then home side had the better “chances”, the second half saw the visitors creating much more without really threatening to bring all the points home to Kent. 

After a very quiet opening, the visitors were indebted to keeper Jake Turner as the “new manager bounce” geed the home side in the opening half hour. Callum Morton’s curling effort was pushed away well by the Gills keeper who did well to make up the ground, but if that was a good save, the one made by Turner on the stroke of half-time was really top drawer. A free kick into the Gills box was met by Ryan Inniss and his header seemed destined for the top corner only for a flying stretching Turner to get his fingertips to the ball and keep the ball out. 

At the other end, the Gills struggled but whatever Clemence said to his pink gladiators at the break seemed to improve things… albeit slightly. 

Robbie McKenzie had a shot wide that at least had keeper Luke Daniels scrambling across his goal and shortly afterwards Connor Mahoney fired wide after a good short corner routine. 

The introduction of Jonny Williams seemed to give the Gills a boost and it was from a cross from the Welshman that led to what in the end was to be the visitors best chance as Tim Dieng’s header forced Daniels into a fine save. 

Dieng had a second chance late on with a curling effort that this time did beat Daniels but also the post as the game meandered to a sadly predictable goal-less draw. But it is a point on the road in League Two for the Head Coach for the first time and who knows just how important a Friday night point in Gloucestershire the Friday before Christmas may be come early May? 

And so, the Gills now head into their Christmas home double with all the Priestfield faithful hoping for six points to lift the side back into the Play Off places ahead of the January transfer window opening where Clemence will almost certainly look to strengthen for a push upward and onward in 2024… 

FOREST GREEN ROVERS – Daniels, Dabo (Bernard), Inniss, Moore-Taylor, Robson, Bunker, Jones (Brown), McAllister, McCann (Bendle), Stevens (Omotoye), Morton 

Subs – Searle, Johnson, Jenks 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, McKenzie (Alexander), Ehmer, Masterson, Malone, Coleman, Dieng, Lapslie (Nadesan), Mahoney, Jayden Clarke (Jonny Williams), Bonne (Nichols) 

Subs – Morris, Ogie, Hawkins  

REFEREE – Mr Allison 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC