It was once again a tale of missed chances for the Gills as they had to settle for a draw at home to Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon.
George Lapslie slotted home the equaliser after they went behind to a Donovan Wright strike in the first half. From that moment on it was likely that there would be only one winner, however the Gills just couldn’t find the back of the net with any of several decent chances.
With a sickness bug hampering preparations on Thursday and Friday, Stephen Clemence was forced into changes in his starting eleven this afternoon. Ethan Coleman the most noticeable absentee from the starting eleven was replaced by Lapslie. The suspended Conor Masterson was replaced by Robbie McKenzie. Taite Holtam, Alex Giles and Joe Gbode were named among the substitutes, although none of the younger players found their way onto the pitch.
The home side set-up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with McKenzie and Tim Dieng in the holding midfield positions. Oli Hawkins was once again up front on his own with support coming from, Connor Mahoney, Lapslie and Jonny Williams.
The first chance of the game came for the Gills, with the impressive Mahoney taking the ball forward down the right, before sending a cross into the area, where Lapslie advanced and sent his header off target.
The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute, Grimsby took the lead. Unfortunately for the Gills, this is probably where they missed Coleman, with Holohan playing the midfield and defence splitting pass for Wilson, who found himself one-on-one with an onrushing Glenn Morris. Wilson took a touch, steadied himself and slotted home under Morris.
That certainly livened the Gills up, as the lead was only too last three minutes, before Lapslie slotted the Gills level. It was Dieng with a delightful cross into the area that was met by Lapslie coming in at the back post, leaving the keeper with no chance.
Jonny Williams is probably wondering this evening how he hasn’t scored a Gills goal this afternoon. Remeao Hutton who spent the afternoon hitting crosses into the Grimsby, sent one into the area and Williams headed goalwards only to see Harvey Rodgers on hand to clear off the line.
It was Max Clark next-up with an attempt on the Cartwright goal. He was encouraged to shoot by the Priesfield faithful, he duly obliged and his fizzed effort caused the Grimsby keeper a few issues, as he palmed it away.
As the half time whistle blew, it was clear that the game was there for the taking for Gillingham if they were serious about mounting a challenge for the play-offs.
The second half began with the Gills looking to try and stamp their authority on the game, and ultimately find that all important second goal.
The best chance of the half came in the 60th minute for the visitors, as they broke from inside their own half. Denver Hume looked a danger taking the ball forward, he cut the ball back for Wilson. The striker had more time and space than he thought he had, to take a touch and set himself but struck it first time, sending it over the crossbar.
Oli Hawkins might be wondering this evening how he didn’t score, six minutes later. Lapslie shook of a Grimsby defender, before bursting into the box. He got to the byline and cut the ball back to the six-yard area, where Hawkins sent a first time shot over the crossbar.
Shad Ogie was the next Gills player to have a chance. He must have been fully thirty yards out when he was encouraged to shoot. He did just that, and his absolute rocket of a shot stung the palms of Cartwright and came out to Mahoney, who strike his shot first time, hitting the outside of the far post and bouncing clear.
Ogie then had another go at getting on the scoresheet when he went on a mazy run from his own half, before taking on a Grimsby defender. He burst into the area and towards the byline, he evaded a tackle before firing his shot over the bar from an acute angle. This might just have sealed the man of match award for the centre half.
Mahoney then had another chance to win it for the Gills. He took on a Grimsby defender, most of whom he had the beating of all afternoon. His right footed effort went high and wide, when it would probably have been easier to hit the target and test Cartwright in the Grimsby goal.
Clemence decided to roll the dice and made three changes with about five minutes left on the clock. It was probably too little too late, although with the Gills playing well it was hard to see who he would have taken off to freshen things up. Scott Malone, Ashley Nadesan and Jayden Clarke were sent on to replace Clark, McKenzie and Jonny Williams. Although the fourth official made a complete hash of getting them up on the board correctly, confusing Dieng as to if he was coming off or not.
The substitutions probably disrupted the Gills forward momentum, with a slight loss of shape that almost allowed Grimsby to capitalise.
Jamie Andrews did well to keep possession outside the Gillingham penalty area before the ball was played to Pyke inside the box. He was allowed to turn and seemingly had a clear shot at goal before Captain Ehmer came sliding in with a last-ditch challenge to ensure the goal bound effort was put out for a corner.
The resulting corner coming to nothing, time ran out for the Gills as the clock ticked down and referee James Bell blew the final whistle. It was a case of two points dropped for the Gills in a dominate performance, crucially though they didn’t lose touch with the play-off places, remaining just one point behind AFC Wimbledon in seventh.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark (Malone 84), McKenzie (Nadesan 85), Dieng, Mahoney, J. Williams (Clarke 85), Lapslie, Hawkins
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Giles, S. Williams, Gbode
Grimsby Town: Cartwright, Mullarkey (Smith 81), Tharme, Rodgers, Hume, Clifton (Eisa 46), Thompson, Holohan (Andrews 74), Wilson (Pyke 81), Green, Obikwu (Gnahoua 46)
Unused Substitutes: Eastwood, Wood
Referee: James Bell
Attendance: 6065 (425 away fans)
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC