Elliott Nevitt’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Will Grigg’s strike with less than 15 minutes remaining, as Gillingham earned a well-deserved point in the 1-1 draw with Chesterfield at the SMH Group Stadium on Tuesday night.
Gills took the lead after 14 minutes when Aaron Rowe cut the ball back to Nevitt inside the box. The striker shifted the ball onto his right foot before finding the bottom right corner with his shot.
The visitors battled valiantly throughout the game, but Chesterfield got back onto level terms with 13 minutes to go. Ryan Colclough’s low pass into the penalty area found Grigg, who smashed the ball past Glenn Morris and into the left corner of the net.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI after the 2-2 draw at Salford City at the weekend. Joe Gbode and Jonny Williams were recalled to the side in place of Oli Hawkins and Robbie McKenzie, who were named among the substitutes.
Aaron Rowe came into the line-up, replacing Jayden Clarke, who missed out on the matchday squad. Jack Nolan was named among the substitutes.
The hosts nearly took the lead in the opening seconds. Glenn Morris and Remeao Hutton collided when trying to deal with a ball into the penalty area. That allowed Dylan Duffy to capitalise, aiming goalward. Fortunately, Sam Gale was already providing cover as he chested the ball around the post for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the 14th minute, Elliott Nevitt gave Gillingham the lead. The ball deflected into Rowe’s path inside the penalty area, and he spotted Nevitt unmarked, cutting it back to the forward. The striker shifted the ball onto his right foot, creating space before sending a low drive into the bottom right corner, leaving Ryan Boot rooted to his spot.
Max Clark attempted a speculative effort when the ball dropped to him around 25 yards from the goal. However, his volley went well over the crossbar.
Nevitt came close to scoring his second on 39 minutes. Armani Little’s corner was curled towards the back post, which Nevitt managed to direct goalward. Unfortunately, he could not keep it down, as it went just over the bar and landed on the roof of the net.
HALF-TIME: Chesterfield 0-1 Gillingham
Rowe did well to get a shot away a few minutes into the second period. Gale won possession with a perfectly timed sliding challenge, which allowed the visitors to break forward. The ball was played to Rowe on the left, who drove inside onto his right foot before shooting from a central position. His low drive was too close to Boot, who got down to gather.
The hosts began applying pressure, as the Gills had to stand firm. A corner from the left dropped to Kyle McFadzean, who volleyed goalward. The ball was blocked before Chesterfield got a cross into the penalty area. Ash Palmer rose highest, but sent his attempt wide of the post.
Michael Olakigbe somehow failed to equalise seconds later. Duffy’s cross from the left towards the back post was headed back across the goal by Grigg. It dropped to Olakigbe, who smashed a volley goalward. However, he could not keep his attempt down, as he blazed over the goal from six yards out.
On the hour, Gbode came close. The striker did brilliantly to get the ball beyond the last man before holding off a Chesterfield defender that was all over him. The Gills Academy graduate got the ball onto his right foot before shooting from 20 yards, with his shot going just wide of the target.
In the 69th minute, Gills made their first change, with Nolan replacing Rowe.
Grigg tried a snapshot from around six yards after the ball ricocheted into his path. Fortunately, he could not direct it on target, smashing it wide of the near post.
The hosts were awarded a free-kick after Hutton brought Armando Dobra down on the edge of the penalty area. Liam Mandeville took the set piece, getting his attempt up and over the wall, but high of the target.
Grigg equalised for Chesterfield in the 77th minute. John Fleck played the ball in behind the Gillingham defence, which Ryan Colclough met. He played a low pass into the penalty area for Grigg to sweep the ball past a diving Morris and into the back of the net.
Gillingham nearly found an immediate response. Nolan floated a cross from the left wing towards the back post. Nevitt met it, heading it back across the goal towards the six-yard box. Unfortunately, it was just out of the reach of the oncoming Gbode, who would have had an easy tap-in.
Moments later, Gills made their second change, as McKenzie replaced Jonny Williams.
Colclough was inches away from giving the hosts the lead. Ollie Banks’ cross was flicked on by a Gillingham defender into the path of Colclough, who was in space on the left side of the box. He rifled a first-time volley goalward, with it just missing the goal.
Gills made their final change when Jimmy-Jay Morgan replaced Gbode.
Chesterfield continued to go in search of a winner, but Gillingham did brilliantly to restrict their hosts to next to nothing, as they came away with a hard fought point.
FULL-TIME: Chesterfield 1-1 Gillingham
Chesterfield: Boot, Mandeville, Palmer, McFadzean (Dobra 69’), Gordon, Fleck, Metcalfe (Grimes 69’), Olakigbe, Madden (Banks 80’), Duffy (Colclough 69’), Grigg (Pepple 86’)
Unused Substitutes: Thompson, Naylor
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Gale, Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Little, J. Williams (McKenzie 78’), Rowe (Nolan 69’), Gbode (Morgan 86’), Nevitt
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Hawkins, E. Williams, Agbinone
Referee: Martin Woods
Attendance: 7810 (340 Gillingham supporters)
