On one of the most inclement nights that anyone at Priestfield could remember, it proved to be Gillingham’s first goal less home League draw of the season but left those who braved the weather asking – point gained or two dropped?

Well when the opposition keeper Jonny Maxted was undoubted man of the match, you have to say that it was probably two dropped although ironically the Gills can thank top scorer Tom Eaves for a goal-line clearance to thwart Accrington’s best attack.

With the rain non stop for the whole game, it was the home team who went close first with the returning Darren Oldaker first to test Maxted.  Stanley responded with Sean McConville forcing Tomas Holy into a good save before the Gills keeper had a huge slice of luck when he punched a cross that he should have caught off of a combination of Gills skipper Gabby Zakuani and Accrington striker Jordan Clark saw the ball loop almost apologetically past the left post.

The let off seemed to inspire the home side and Eaves scrapped the foot of Maxted’s right post after an incredible gut busting run from Brandon Hanlan as the Gills cleared a corner – Hanlan picked the ball up and sprinted down the left wing before an incredible diagonal picked out Eaves who’s shot was so agonisingly close.  Elliott List then forced Maxted into another good block before at the other end Jordan found Billy Kee, but his shot disappeared into the sparsely populated Rainham End.

The home side pushed on again at the start of the second half as they looked to complete the double over Stanley but suddenly had Eaves to thank for keeping the score line blank as the striker was in the right place to clear away as the giant Ross Sykes went close.

Eaves then at the other end forced Maxted into another fine save as Mark Byrne’s increasing influence in the game grew into the second half.  The Gills pushed and probed as Stanley were forced further and further back, but Lovell’s side just couldn’t find the net.  Max Ehmer’s angled drive was brilliantly beaten out, Oldaker’s free kick was magnificently tipped onto the crossbar by a flying keeper before Connor Ogilvie got into the box and somehow a combination of Maxted and his defenders kept out List, Josh Rees and Eaves again.

At the final whistle, there was a what might have been feeling amongst the faithful that their heroes had missed a huge chance – lets just hope that come May, this soggy Tuesday in January isn’t one of the nights looked back on where points were missed…

GILLINGHAM – Holy, Zakuani, Ehmer, Hanlan. Eaves, Fuller, List (Charles Cook 88), Oldaker, Rees, Byrne, Ogilvie

Subs – Hadler, O’Neill, Garmston, Parrett, Simpson, Mbo

ACCRINGTON – Maxted, Johnson, Hughes, Donacien, Richards-Everton, Clark, Brown, McConaville, Sykes (Smyth 75), Conneely

Subs – Ogle, Nolan, Zanzala, Wood, Rodgers, Armstrong

Image courtesy of Kent Pro Images