Jimmy-Jay Morgan gave Gillingham an early lead, but Cheltenham Town fought back to secure a 1-1 draw at The EV Charger Points Stadium on Good Friday.
Gills went in front in the second minute. Jack Nolan played a pass in behind the Cheltenham defence from a free-kick that found Morgan. The striker’s first touch allowed him to quickly get a shot away and he slotted the ball into the far bottom corner.
The hosts equalised in the 22nd minute when Sam Stubbs’ header back across the goal eventually crossed the line.
Sam Gale thought he had scored his first Gillingham goal after he bundled the ball over the line shortly before half-time. However, the referee ruled it out for handball.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI that beat MK Dons 1-0 last time out. Nelson Khumbeni, Jack Nolan and Jimmy-Jay Morgan came into the side, replacing Armani Little, Euan Williams and Aaron Rowe.
Taite Holtam retained his place in goal, while Tim Dieng, who is on loan at Cheltenham, was ineligible to play in the fixture.
In the second minute, Morgan gave Gillingham the lead. The visitors won a free-kick 30 yards from the goal, which Nolan took. He played a smart pass in behind the Cheltenham defence to Morgan, who had peeled away from a defender. The Chelsea loanee brought the ball under control before sliding a shot into the far bottom corner of the net.
Elliott Nevitt tested Joe Day after some good play by Gills. The ball was played to Nevitt on the edge of the penalty area, who controlled it before shooting. However, his low drive was comfortably gathered by the Cheltenham goalkeeper.
Arkell Jude-Boyd forced Holtam into action on 18 minutes. The ball was switched out to the right, with the Cheltenham man in space. He opted to strike the ball from 25 yards. Holtam got across to get two solid hands behind the ball to push it wide for a corner, which was scrambled around the six-yard box before Tommy Backwell cleared the crossbar.
In the 22nd minute, Sam Stubbs equalised for the hosts. Ryan Haynes delivered a free-kick towards the back post, which found Stubbs, who headed the ball across the six-yard box towards the far corner. It beat Holtam, and despite Nevitt's best efforts to clear it off the line, it ended up in the back of the net.
Jordan Thomas saw his shot go just wide of the post shortly after. A corner from the left found Stubbs, who tried to head towards the six-yard box. The ball eventually came out to Thomas, who brought the ball onto his left foot before shooting. He sent a low-driven effort towards the near post, which Holtam had covered, as it fizzed wide of the target.
Shortly before half-time, Haynes tried catching Holtam out. Cheltenham had a free-kick to the right of the penalty area, which was shaped to be a cross. However, Haynes opted to shoot, curling a shot towards the goal. Fortunately, it was high and wide of the near post, leaving Holtam untroubled.
Moments later, Sam Gale thought he had scored his first Gillingham goal. Max Clark’s cross was headed up into the air by Nevitt over the oncoming Day. Gale battled to meet the ball before bundling it over the line. However, the referee did not award the goal, believing Gale had used his hand or arm in the process.
HALF-TIME: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Gillingham
Morgan did well to create an opportunity in the 52nd minute. Khumbeni closed down a Cheltenham defender, who cleared as far as Robbie McKenzie. He played it to Clark, who found Khumbeni. The midfielder played a first-time pass around the corner for Morgan, who got beyond his marker. The Chelsea loanee was put under pressure as he got a shot away, which was blocked behind for a corner by Day in the Cheltenham goal.
Backwell should have done better soon after. A high looping ball into the box was headed back to the Cheltenham midfielder, who volleyed goalward in a central position. Fortunately, he could not make clear contact, sending it well wide of the target.
There was a moment of panic for Gills as Jude-Boyd’s cross from the right ricocheted around the six-yard box. The ball was heading towards the goal until Remeao Hutton, who was on the line, cleared away.
On the hour, Bradley Dack was introduced, replacing Morgan.
Gills needed just a touch to regain the lead seven minutes later. Nolan lofted a ball into space from a free-kick, which found Nevitt. The forward attempted to get a shot away, which was blocked before Gale took control. He did well to weave away from a couple of Cheltenham defenders before drilling the ball across the six-yard box. Unfortunately, there was no one in the vicinity to put the ball into the back of the net.
In the 71st minute, Jonny Williams replaced Nolan.
Ethan Williams nearly gave the hosts the lead. He received the ball 25 yards from the goal before evading the challenge of one defender and then shooting. His attempt was dipping at the final second, as Holtam did well to push it around the post for a corner, which came to nothing.
Day did well to deny Gale from a Clark corner. The left-back curled the ball into the box towards the six-yard box, which Gale met, heading down towards the bottom corner. However, the Cheltenham goalkeeper got across to palm away.
In the 84th minute, Gillingham used their final substitute window. Rowe and Oli Hawkins entered the game for Khumbeni and Nevitt respectively.
Hawkins was unlucky in the second minute of added time. Clark curled a cross into the box that Jonny Williams went up to head. The ball was flicked towards the back post, where Hawkins was waiting. Unfortunately, it was at too tight of an angle for the forward, who could only head straight at Day.
FULL-TIME: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Gillingham
Cheltenham Town: Day, Jude-Boyd, Stubbs, Bennett (Bradbury 46’), Haynes (Bakare 80’), Kinsella, Backwell, Thomas, Archer (Williams 61’), Dulson (Hay 61’), Miller (Taylor 61’)
Unused Substitutes: Diallo, Tustin
Gillingham: Holtam, Hutton, Gale, Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Khumbeni (Rowe 84’), McKenzie, Nolan (J. Williams 71’), Morgan (Dack 60’), Nevitt (Hawkins 84’)
Unused Substitutes: Clarke, Agbinone, Gbode
Referee: Graham Scott
Attendance: 4702 (732 Gillingham supporters)
