Max Clark scored from the penalty spot to ensure Gillingham came away with a well-deserved point in a 1-1 draw with play-off chasing Colchester United at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday night.
Colchester took a first-half lead through Jack Payne. The goal came with controversy, as the ball seemingly went out of play when Owura Edwards pinched the ball off Sam Gale. He cut it back to Payne, who thumped into the back of the net. The Gillingham players and supporters argued their case for the ball going out of play, but the referee stood firm and awarded the goal.
In the 77th minute, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Oli Hawkins was dragged down inside the penalty area when Remeao Hutton’s cross was mid-flight. It left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Clark stepped up and calmly curled his penalty into the middle of the goal, sending Matt Macey to the left.
Gareth Ainsworth made one change to the starting XI for his first home game in charge of the Football Club. Jayden Clarke returned to the line-up, replacing Jimmy-Jay Morgan, who dropped to the bench.
Glenn Morris started in goal, making his 100th appearance for Gillingham in the process.
Armani Little served the second of his two-game suspension.
The hosts nearly took an early lead. Remeao Hutton’s looping cross was right on top of Macey, who couldn't keep hold of it. The ball dropped into the path of two Gillingham players, who could not get the correct contact as it bounced wide of the target.
In the 13th minute, Joe Gbode had a massive chance. Hutton took a quick throw to Elliott Nevitt, which allowed the forward to get to the right byline. He cut the ball back into the six-yard box for Gbode, who met the ball. However, he could not direct his shot on target, sending it wide of the near post.
Despite Gillingham controlling the opening 20 minutes of the game, Colchester took the lead through Jack Payne. Sam Gale was attempting to shield the ball out of play, but Owura Edwards got around him to pinch the ball off the Gills defender. The ball seemingly went out of play, but the match officials allowed the game to continue, as Edwards cut it back to Payne, who rifled into the back of the net from inside the penalty area. Despite the appeals from the Gillingham players the referee stuck with the initial decision and awarded the goal.
Gills responded well to conceding, as Clarke saw a half-volley from 20 yards headed behind for a corner. However, following a string of corners, they failed to truly test Macey in the Colchester goal as the visitors eventually got a goal-kick.
Robbie McKenzie was denied by an excellent save on 31 minutes. Max Clark sent a long diagonal free-kick towards the edge of the penalty area, which Nevitt headed down. It fell into McKenzie’s path, rifling a half-volley goalward from the edge of the penalty area. It was struck with plenty of venom, and Macey had to react quickly to push it over the crossbar for a corner, which came to nothing.
Arthur Read tried catching Morris out after picking off his attempted clearance. The Colchester player tried his luck from distance, but his low drive was straight into the chest of Morris, who had recovered in time.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Colchester United
Hutton had a chance in the opening seconds of the second period. A cross from the left was headed as far as the wing-back, who was on the right side of the penalty area. Unfortunately, he could not hit the target, clearing the crossbar with his attempt.
Andy Smith was inches away from potentially equalizing. Jonny Williams curled a beautiful ball into the penalty area, and Smith got away from his marker, throwing himself at the ball and attempting to make contact. Unfortunately, it just evaded the head of the Hull loanee as it went out of play for a goal-kick.
In the 53rd minute, Nevitt stung the palms of Macey. The striker did well to get into the penalty area, creating space for himself before blasting goalward. However, his shot was straight at Macey, who had to palm away before the ball eventually went out of play for a goal-kick.
The Gillingham players and supporters were appealing for a penalty on 65 minutes. McKenzie played a dinked pass in behind the Colchester defence, which was met by Nevitt, who tried cutting it back on the byline. It hit a Colchester defender before going out for a corner, but there were mass appeals for a handball. Despite the claims, the referee stood firm.
In the 69th minute, Gills made their first change as Oli Hawkins replaced Gbode.
Hawkins nearly made an immediate impact as he came close to scoring. Hutton crossed from the right, which found the head of the forward. Hawkins’ attempt was on target but lacked the power to truly test Macey as he got across his line to gather.
In the 77th minute, Gillingham were awarded a penalty. Hutton did brilliantly to keep the ball in play, delivering a cross into the penalty area. As the ball was mid-flight Hawkins was wrestled to the ground, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the penalty spot.
Clark stepped up to take the spot-kick, keeping his cool, curling into the centre of the goal with Macey diving to the left.
With a little under ten minutes remaining, Gills made another change, with Aaron Rowe replacing Clarke.
Conor Masterson did well to get a shot away with four minutes to go. A corner from the right was kept alive by Gale, falling to Masterson inside the penalty area. The defender did well in creating space before shooting with his left foot. However, his low drive was straight at Macey.
Gillingham made their final change during the final seconds of regulation, as Jacob Wakeling came on for Nevitt.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Masterson had a great opportunity to win the game. Clark’s cross was headed back by a visiting defender into the path of Masterson, who volleyed first time. However, he could not keep his attempt down, rifling over the crossbar.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Colchester United
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, Masterson, Gale, Clark, McKenzie, J. Williams, Clarke (Rowe 81’), Gbode (Hawkins 69’), Nevitt (Wakeling 90’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Ogie, E. Williams, Morgan
Colchester United: Macey, Egbo, Kelleher, Flanagan, Iandolo, Tucker, Read, Thorn (Aboh 88’), Payne (Hunt 39’), Edwards (Scully 25’ (Jolliffe 88’)), Simpson
Unused Substitutes: Smith, Taylor, Connolly
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 5924 (767 away fans)
