Adrian Pennock’s Gillingham are still seeking their first win but got away with a point with which he described as a poor performance.

Pennock also stated it was a point gained.

The game was played in wintry conditions and both teams took a while to get used to the conditions with chances few and far between in a relatively poor first half.

In the 11^th minute Port Vale nearly took the lead when Stuart Nelson came to collect a cross but dropped it under pressure and the ball was returned into the area for JJ Hooper but from 6 yards out he shot wide.

Ten minutes later it was Gills turn to have a chance to score when Cody McDonald broke free down the right flank and his low cross evaded everyone except Rory Donnelly and from 15 yards he shot wide.

In the 29^th minute a Port Vale corner to the back post found Nathan Smith but from 5 yards he headed wide.

Ten minutes later Deji Oshilaja ran from halfway into the area and his shot was deflected for a corner.

In the 42^nd minute Port Vale nearly took the lead when Chris Herd’s header back to Nelson saw the Gillingham keeper drop it and under pressure retrieved it at the second attempt with a Port Vale forward waiting to stab into an empty net.

Half time arrived and both managers would have a chance to get their teams playing better.

Michael Brown must have really got to his players as in the 49^th minute Danny Pugh tried his luck from 25 yards forcing Nelson to push it away for a corner and from the resulting corner to the back post Remie Streete from 3 yards headed in.

The crowd went silent apart from the 121 Port Vale supporters. Vale were now in charge albeit they were not really creating many chances.

In the 78^th minute Sam Foley in on goal on the right side saw his shot from 18 yards go past the post, then in the 82^nd minute Anton Forrester saw his free kick from 25 yards curl just past the post.

The referee added at least 5 minutes which was probably down to the time wasting tactics of Vale and this would come back and bite them as in the 95^th a Jay Emmanuel-Thomas corner into the area found debutant Josh Parker and from 8 yards on his own he powered his header into the goal.

Vale took kick off and seconds later the referee blew up for time.

 

GILLINGHAM:

1. NELSON 2. R.JACKSON  4. C.HERD  5. M.EHMER  6. D.OSHILAJA  7. S.WAGSTAFF (75) 8.J.HESSENTHALER (60) 9. R.DONNELLY 10. C.McDONALD (58) 23. B.DACK  44. J.WRIGHT

SUBS USED: 14. L.MARTIN (58)  19. J.PARKER (60)  50 J.EMMANUEL THOMAS (75)

SUBS NOT USED: 30. T.HOLY  3. B.GARMSTON  21. E.LIST  33. M.BYRNE

BOOKINGS: 4. C.HERD (22)  6. D.OSHILAJA (57)  9. R.DONNELLY (62)

 

PORT VALE:

38. L.FASAN 2. B.PURKISS 4. R.STREETE  5. K.KNOPS 10. JJ.HOOPER (90) 11. S.FOLEY  12. D.PUGH 24. N.SMITH 25. C.GRAY 26. T.WALKER (78) 28. A.de FREITAS

SUBS USED:  15. A.FORRESTER (78)  44. C.EAGLES (90)

SUBS NOT USED: 23. R.BOOT  7. S.KELLY  14. J.THOMAS  19. S.TANNER  46. O.SHODIPO

BOOKINGS: 5. K.KNOPS (63) 4. R.STREETE (77)

 

REFEREE: Mr N.KINSELY

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.WEBB & Mr J.SIMPSON

4^TH OFFICIAL: Mr A.DEGNARIAN

 

ATTENDANCE: 4,942