Nineteen-year-old Gerald Sithole’s first goal at Priestfield kept Gillingham in the Emirates FA Cup as Steve Evans’ side came from a goal down to earn a replay against Cheltenham Town.
Half time sub Sithole’s moment of glory came in front of the Rainham End just before the hour mark as he swooped to gloriously volley Ryan Jackson’s cross into the Cheltenham net to equalise the visitors’ 30th minute strike.
Following the two sides’ draw in the Carabao Cup back in August, this was always going to be a tight contest and so it proved as the Gills boss made three alterations to the team that drew with Accrington seven days ago – Aaron Chapman, Ben Reeves and Dan Adshead all starting.
Kyle Dempsey had the first clear chance of any note, but his effort fizzed across the face of goal. That came at the half’s midway point and shortly after, Danny Lloyd came with inches of putting the Gills ahead. A brilliant run was almost ended in spectacular fashion, but keeper Scott Flinders just did enough to keep out the shot at his near post.
Chapman then excelled to keep out a low shot from Kyle Vassell but from the corner, Cheltenham did score as Matty Pollock’s header was deemed by the assistant referee to have crossed the line despite the protests from the Gills players and supporters alike.
On the stroke of half time, Vadaine Oliver was inches away from connecting properly to Lloyd’s cross and the chance went wide, but it set the tone for the early stages of the second half as the Gills came out firing – Dempsey fired straight at the keeper before Flinders made a terrific save to keep out Lloyd’s free kick.
Sithole’s moment of glory arrived as the youngster anticipated Jackson’s ball magnificently as it dropped beyond Oliver’s reach, and as it did, he thumped the ball past a flailing Flinders and took the acclaim of the sparce Priestfield crowd.
As the game then became cagier almost by the minute as both sides were concerned about conceding what would have been the winner, it was Gillingham who came the closest from another unlikely source. Bailey Akehurst, who had been on work experience at Cray Wanderers, managed to get on the end of a clearance to hammer a volley that flew past a stranded Flinders. Sadly, though for the young man, his magnificent strike also beat the post!
Honours even and it’s all back to Cheltenham in ten days time for a third meeting of the two teams already this season – and that’s even before the two League Two games that the two have yet to face against each other… the first of which is ironically back at Priestfield in seventeen days time!
Before that, Gillingham will have to deal with injuries to Ryan Jackson, Robbie McKenzie and Rhys Bennett.
GILLINGHAM – Chapman, Jackson (Lintott 80), McKenzie (Akehurst 56), Ehmer, Bennett (Akinde 72), Tucker, Adshead (Sithole H/T), Dempsey, Reeves, Lloyd, Oliver.
Sub not used – Cumming.
Goal: Sithole (59).
Booked: Jackson (36), Tucker (90).
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Flinders, Long, Pollock, Freestone, Blair, Hussey, Thomas, Chapman, May (Sercombe 67), Vassell (Crowley 77), Norton (Joseph 76).
Subs not used – Evans, Williams, Horton, Barkers, Armitage.
Goal: Pollock (34).
Booked: Chapman (54), Long (84).
REFEREE – Mr Ollie Yates
Attendance: 2,555 (118 Cheltenham)
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.