It truly was unlucky thirteen for Gillingham on Tuesday night as Fleetwood Town rode their luck and left MEMS Priestfield with a 2-1 win. 

After taking a first half lead through a towering Elliott Nevitt header, the same old defensive frailties surfaced either side of the break with a poor clearance and a misplaced tackle costing the Gills dear, whilst the second half Fleetwood goal in front of the Rainham End led the most charmed of lives, as the visitors did literally everything to hold onto three points – including on one occasion hurling Robbie McKenzie into the advertising boards in front of the Medway Stand and keeping eleven men on the pitch! 

A cagey opening half hour saw the Gills probing to get past the parked Fleetwood bus. Nevitt shot wide early on, McKenzie flashed a ball across the face of goal, Oli Hawkins had an effort blocked following a Romeao Hutton cross, then the target man headed an Amani Little cross fractionally wide before being denied by a last gasp challenge as he tried to reach a Nevitt cross. 

Chances without really testing Fleetwood keeper Lynch, but then on 38 minutes, Max Clark and Joe Gbode combined well down the left and Clark’s deep ball to the back post was brilliantly met by a towering Nevitt and the Gills led sending the Rainham End in rapturous choruses of “We’ve scored a goal!!!” 

Fleetwood thought they’d levelled almost immediately as Graydon was played through, but the striker went too soon – Graydon netting long after the whistle had gone but wasn’t cautioned! 

Gills didn’t heed the warning and seconds before the break Fleetwood were level as the Gills failed to clear a recycled corner. The home defence had a couple of chances to clear but didn’t and from the second misplaced pass, the ball fell to Helm who beat Glenn Morris with a low shot through the crowd which the Gills keeper probably didn’t see. 

It was interesting at the break to see Fleetwood defender Rooney wait for referee Young and the proceed to talk to the official all the way to the dressing room somewhat animatedly! 

If Priestfield was stunned by Fleetwood’s goal, five minutes into the second half, it was silenced. Another poor pass, this time on half way, provided the space for the ball to played down the line for Helm to turn provider as he sprinted into acres of space to centre for an unmarked Graydon who gave Morris no chance from five yards. This time it was the “Cod Army’s” turn to celebrate – the eighty hardy souls who made the long trip south! 

Now it was the home side’s turn to rally and how they didn’t level was a mixture of poor finishing, bad luck and some dire officiating! 

Gbode did brilliantly down the right to get the ball across the face of goal despite being fouled but it was in vain as no blue shirt was there. Hutton crossed into the box for Hawkins who despite having two defenders holding and pulling at his shirt was able to touch the ball back to Little, whose shot was blocked. 

Indeed, every time Hawkins challenged for the ball, he had at least one defender battering him and trying to “exchange” shirts mid game yet referee Young did nothing. Was that something Rooney had discussed with the official as they left the field at half time perhaps?

From another incidence like that Hawkins laid the ball off again superbly for Clark, whose thunderbolt was superbly beaten out by Lynch. 

In a rare Fleetwood foray forward at this time, Hunt’s charging run saw Morris react brilliantly to his deflected low drive to tip the ball round the post. 

Gills then had their best spell in search of an equaliser – Gbode who had a super game down the right which he grew into, put in a tantalising cross the eluded Lynch and was met by a flying Hawkins, but his header crashed back off the underside of the bar and away to safety. Hawkins then was denied by Lynch as another great ball in was beaten out and the keeper reacted magnificently to keep out Nevitt’s follow up. 

In between, quite how the visitors were not reduced to ten men is in all honesty inexplicable as McKenzie was literally thrown into the advertising boards in front of the Medway Stand wrestling style and was very fortunate to get up let alone get up “only” shaken by Bennett. After a long discussion with the referee that again saw Fleetwood players “talking” to the official, Mr. Young incensed the crowd as he only showed the batterer a yellow card. 

Gillingham then made a triple change with just under twenty minutes left that seemed to take the teeth out of their fight and indeed but for a remarkable save by Morris with his feet from a shot that came through a crowded box the points would have been secured. 

There was one finale last hoorah as Bradley Dack’s curling effort was destined for the bottom corner before being deflected by a desperate lunge by a defender and the resulting corner really summed up the home side’s night. A curling ball into the box saw Lynch hopelessly out of position get extremely fortunate with a desperate claw at the ball and as it headed for another Gills corner to keep up the late pressure, the ball hit the corner flag, staying in play and allowing the defender to hack to safety. 

Thirteen without a win for the Gills and now Saturday’s home game with Morecambe takes on incredibly massive significance as the Shrimpers currently occupy the last relegation place and are nine points behind Gillingham having played a game more. 

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Gale, Ehmer, Smith, Hutton (Dack 75), Little, McKenzie, Max Clark (Nolan 74), Nevitt, Gbode (Jayden Clarke 75), Hawkins (Morgan 86).

Subs not used – Rowe, Khumbeni, Turner.

Goal: Nevitt (39).

FLEETWOOD TOWN – Lynch, Rooney, Bolton, Wiredu, Covers (Bennett 60), Bonds, Neal, Helm, Hunt, Graydon, Devonpork (Marsh 69). 

Subs not used – Hewitson, Patterson, Mayor, Moore, Potter.

Goals: Helm (45), Graydon (50).

Booked: Rooney (33), Neal (74).

REFEREE – Mr. Alan Young  

Attendance: 5370

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.