It was an opening day to remember for Gillingham as promotion favourites Stockport County were stunned by super sub, Robbie McKenzie’s magnificent late drive.
The Gills travelled North knowing that their first assignment of the new SKYBet League Two season couldn’t really have got much tougher. But after an inspired defensive display with keeper Jake Turner and his defence in superb form, the spotlight fell on McKenzie.
Unlucky to miss out on starting, the Gills hero was introduced with twenty minutes left after an excellent debut for Jonny Williams and his big moment came just four minutes from time as Cheye Alexander’s deflected free-kick fell to McKenzie and the ball was deposited into the home net sending the travelling Army of Gills fans, which totalled over 700, wild with delight.
Opening day saw debuts across the pitch, Shadrach Ogie partnered Max Ehmer in the heart of the defence in Conor Masterson’s absence with Scott Malone starting as left back, whilst Jonny Williams partnered the new skipper, name sake Shaun (who incidentally was the first Gills player cautioned in the new campaign after just three minutes), in the heart of midfield.
After an understandable opening where both sides were feeling each other out it took quarter of an hour for a shot worthy of the name, Jonny Williams effort comfortably dealt with by home keeper Ben Hinchcliffe.
Tom Nichols went close when released by Ehmer whilst Turner’s first real involvement came just before the break as the Gills keeper did really well to keep out a header from Macauley Southam-Hales that bounced right in front of him.
The half ended with Malone sending a shot curling inches too high whilst at the start of the second half Ethan Coleman made a brilliant goal line clearance to keep the score blank, and the hosts went even closer shortly later as Kyle Knoyle crashed a shot that left Turner’s crossbar rattled!
The best move produced by the visitors almost broke the deadlock. Another debut maker sub, Ashley Nadesan combined really well with George Lapslie and Nichols and as the ball was played back for Malone, it headed towards the bottom corner was incredibly tipped round the post by Hinchcliffe.
McKenzie’s moment marked unbridled scenes of celebrations but theres a saying in football that you’re at your most vulnerable when you’ve just scored and Turner’s next big save almost underlined that. Paddy Madden got on the end of a flick and only a really brave block from the Gills keeper kept him out.
The drama wasn’t over as Madden finally got the ball past Turner, but as Edgeley Park though they’d salvaged a point, they spotted an assistant’s flag fluttering in the Manchester breeze!
From parking the bus for the point that ultimately kept County out of the automatic places last season, to beating the squad Neil Harris admitted last week he feels is the strongest in the Division, yet again underlines just how far this evolving squad had come in a ridiculously short period of time!
If it’s possible to set down a marker on opening day then this surely is it and with the two promotion favourites, Wrexham and Notts County, both conceding five in defeat, with Stockport being Bookies third favourites, it was left to the side fourth in the betting, to keep the Bookies collective honour, and thanks to Robbie McKenzie, that happened!
STOCKPORT COUNTY – Hinchcliffe, Knoyle, Touray, Horsfall (Richardson), Southam-Hales (Evans), Camps (Wright), Sarcevic, Powell, Rydel, Barry (Madden), Olaofe
Subs – Smith, Byrne, Pye
GILLINGHAM – Turner, Alexander, Ehmer, Ogie, Malone (Clark), S.Williams, Coleman, Jefferies (Nadesan), Lapslie (Clarke), J.Williams (McKenzie), Nichols (Gbode)
Subs – Morris, Chambers
Referee – Mr Speedie
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC