The width of the crossbar in front of the Rainham End denied Gillingham an early Christmas present as Mark Bonner’s side were denied three deserved points.

The Gills kicked off the Kent festive football programme sharing four goals and the points with Cheltenham Town at MEMS Priestfield.

The visitors arrived in good form, but were never allowed to settle against a hardworking, battling, and at times very creative Gillingham side who were ahead when Cheltenham keeper Joe Day couldn’t hold a low shot from Elliot Nevitt, Jayden Clarke was on hand to hammer the ball home.

Sadly, the lead didn’t last long as Luke Young’s free kick was caught on the swirling wind giving Glenn Morris no chance, and when in the second period, the visitors again capitalised on a cross that was again affected by the conditions – George Miller heading home – it looked bleak for the home side.

But it is Christmas and when Nevitt did amazingly well to catch a ball from Romeao Hutton down the right, the striker pulled back was slammed home by sub George Lapslie and from then on there was only looking like one winner. But sadly the frame of the goal denied the Gills deep into stoppage time as Bradley Dack’s volley from Day’s ineffective punch crashed back off the bar and away to safety.

The opening was tight with both sides feeling the other out with no chances at all until Max Clark’s cross was headed down by Nevitt only for Ibrahim Bakare hacked to safety – indeed the battle between Nevitt and Bakare became more and more enthralling as the evening wore on.

The Gills were ahead just past the midway point of the half when Day really couldn’t deal with Nevitt’s low drive which skidded off the slick surface and Clarke was on hand to put the Gills ahead.

Sadly, it was a lead that wasn’t to last very long as from a very soft looking free-kick wide on the left Young’s free kick into the box became a vicious looping dipping effort as it caught the gusting wind giving Morris no chance in the Gills goal.

Aaron Rowe almost gave the home the lead for a second time just before the break with a low drive that forced Day into a fine save at the base of his right post as the two sides went in locked at 1-1.

The Gills were in the ascendancy at the start of the second period with Robbie McKenzie grazed the foot of the post with a low drive that beat Day after a delightful touch from Rowe, but just as the faithful hoped that their heroes would retake the lead, it was Cheltenham who scored as a long ball in from the left was really well met by Miller giving Morris no chance. If there was any debate over the defending, praise must be given to a really fine header which Miller executed well.

The response was instant both on and off the pitch with Lapslie’s introduction which meant more urgency and within six minutes the home side were level, as Nevitt did remarkably well to catch a ball down the line from Hutton and the big striker – who worked his socks off all night long –  pulled the ball back superbly for the substitute arriving like a train and he smashed the ball gloriously into the bottom corner – game on for the final quarter!

Chances came and went at both ends – Miller eventually being denied by a combination of a sliding Max Ehmer and a brave blocking Morris whilst at the other end, Jayden Clarkes low ball in was spilled again by Day who was fortunate that Lapslie couldnt turn the ball home before the monent deep into stoppage time, the Gills came agonisingly close to lifting the roof off Priestfield.

Perhaps fittingly because of the time he insisted on wasting at almost every chance, Day was the most relieved man inside Priestfield as from Shad Ogie’s brilliant flighted ball, the Cheltenham keeper’s punch – under huge pressure from Nevitt – wasn’t convincing and as the ball dropped to Dack on the edge of the box, his side footed volley crashed against the bar rebounding into Day’s mightily relieved arms.

If possible, Dacks execution was too good as the visitors escaped Priestfield with a point.

Much, much better from the home side as they now head to deepest darkest Essex on Boxing Day and a trip to Colchester.

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton (Ogie), Max Clark, Masterson, Ehmer, Coleman (Andrews), Rowe (Lapslie), McKenzie, Jayden Clarke, Nevitt, Nolan (Dack)Subs – Turner, Euan Williams, Jonny Williams

CHELTENHAM TOWN – Day, Ajude-Boyd (Dulson), Bakare, Stubbs, Bradbury, Kinsella, Young, Colwill (Payne), Archer, Miller (Taylor), ThomasSubs – Evans, Laing, Pett, Bowman
REFEREE – Mr Brook

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC