For the second time in a little over a month, Gillingham held leaders Walsall to a draw as it finished goalless at MEMS Priestfield. 

And with keeper Glenn Morris in inspired form, John Coleman’s side earned another valuable point as they continued to climb away from the foot of League Two. 

The Gills started well as Amani Little went close from a free kick as he was well denied by keeper Sam Hornby, and from the corner, last week’s scoring hero at Accrington, Max Clark, couldn’t hit the target as the ball fell to him! 

Morris pulled off his first stunning save of the day when the ball fell to Jamille Matt, but Morris stood big and strong and made a stunning stop. The rebound fell to Jamie Jellis, but Morris was not to be beaten and pulled off a second fabulous block. 

The Gills did have the ball in the net when Conor Masterson powered home a header from Clark’s free kick, but referee Humphries had already blown for a foul.  

On the stroke of half time, Morris left Priestfield stunned with a truly magnificent save and the luckless Matt was the man denied again. The Walsall man did brilliantly to get in a thunderous downward header, but the Gillingham keeper defied the years and got down to pull off a truly stunning save! 

The home side started the second period on the front foot – Robbie McKenzie’s low drive was gathered by the keeper at the second attempt, whilst after a free kick had been well recycled by Masterson and McKenzie, Joe Gbode’s header flew across the face of the Walsall goal with no blue shirt able to apply the crucial touch. 

Andy Smith produced a brilliant block to deny Evan Weit’s shot as the leaders went searching for the three points, whilst McKenzie and Eliott Nevitt were denied by defensive blocks as the Gills themselves sort a winner – Walsall keeper Hornby making his best save of the day to deny Nevitt. But the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock came from Walsall defender Harry Williams with a free header that he couldn’t hit the target. 

In the nine minutes of stoppage time, Sam Gale almost scored an own goal as Morris pulled off another great save to keep out the young defenders inadvertent flicked header from a corner, before Gale then very bravely headed away Weir’s late drive. 

Walsall’s lead at the top is now down to just a single point, whilst for Coleman and his players, we are nearly at the stage to stop looking over their shoulders at the other end of the table as the gap to the trap door is now up to thirteen points as Gillingham have a free midweek ahead of next weekend’s trip to Harrogate Town. 

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Smith, Masterson, Gale, Max Clark, McKenzie, Little, Morgan (Jonny Williams), Nevitt, Gbode (Wakeling) 

Subs – Turner, Ehmer, Corness, E. Williams, Hawkins  

WALSALL – Hornby, McEntee, Lakin (Johnson), Matt (Amantchi), Asiimwe, Allen, Jellis (Comley), Williams, Stirk, Weir, Adomah (Chang) 

Subs – Barrett, Daniels, Browne 

REFEREE – Mr. Humphries 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC