George Lapslie came off the bench to secure a point for Gillingham in their back-and-forth 2-2 draw against Cheltenham Town at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Friday night.
Jayden Clarke gave the hosts the lead after 24 minutes. Elliott Nevitt’s low-driven shot from 20 yards was spilt by Joe Day in the Cheltenham goal, allowing Clarke to be first to the rebound, slotting into an empty net.
The visitors equalised less than ten minutes before the break when Luke Young curled a free-kick from close to the left touchline into the far top corner, with it going in off the post.
George Miller gave Cheltenham the lead on the hour, heading Tom Bradbury’s cross into the back of the net, having got in between two Gills defenders.
Lapslie, who had entered the game six minutes earlier, made an immediate impact to level the score. Remeao Hutton played a ball down the line for Nevitt to latch onto before cutting it back to the edge of the box. Lapslie met the ball, sweeping a first-time shot into the far bottom corner.
It was almost a dream ending when Bradley Dack struck the crossbar. Shad Ogie floated a cross into the box, which was punched clear by Day as far as Dack, who side-footed a volley goalward. It lobbed the Cheltenham goalkeeper before striking the frame of the goal.
Mark Bonner made one change to the starting XI that won away at MK Dons in the previous league fixture. Hutton returned to the line-up instead of Harry Webster, who missed out on the matchday squad.
Bradley Dack was fit enough to make the bench once again, while George Lapslie returned to the squad.
In the eighth minute, Ethan Archer did well to conjure up a half-chance. He received the ball on the left wing before carrying it into the penalty area. He had the time and space to move into before attempting to play a low ball towards the goal. However, there were multiple Gillingham players in the crowded area to deal with it before Jayden Clarke put the ball out of play.
A vital intervention denied Gills what seemed a certain goal on 19 minutes. Hutton curled a deep cross from the left towards the back post. Elliott Nevitt met it, heading back across the goal towards the far corner, with Robbie McKenzie lying in wait. At the final moment, a Cheltenham defender came in to cut it out, clearing for a corner, which resulted in a McKenzie header going well wide of the near post.
Clarke gave the hosts the lead in the 24th minute. Nevitt received the ball midway inside the Cheltenham half on the left touchline before turning a defender and sprinting towards the penalty area. He opted to shoot 20 yards from the goal, drilling a low-driven effort goalward. Joe Day spilt the attempt, allowing Clarke to latch onto the rebound, slotting into an empty net.
Joel Colwill nearly equalised for the visitors soon after. Jordan Thomas did well making his way into the box before cutting it back to the forward. Fortunately, he could not make the correct contact, as he sent it trickling wide of Glenn Morris’ far post.
Luke Young brought the visitors level less than ten minutes before the break. Cheltenham won a free-kick to the left of the penalty area, 25 yards out from the goal. The Robins' captain curled the ball towards the far post, with it flying into the top corner out of Morris' reach.
Aaron Rowe forced Day into a save following a nice pattern of play. Gillingham were passing the ball about quickly before it was played out to Rowe on the left, who cut inside onto his right foot before shooting. His strike had plenty of power towards the near post, as Day had to palm away from the danger.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Cheltenham Town
McKenzie came close to regaining the Gillingham lead. Clarke switched the ball out to Rowe in space, who carried it inside before laying it to McKenzie. The midfielder had the time and space to set himself before drilling a shot towards the bottom corner. It beat Day in the Cheltenham goal before whistling inches wide of the post.
George Miller gave Cheltenham the lead on the hour. Tom Bradbury curled a cross from the left into the centre of the box, finding an unmarked Miller, who had got in between two defenders before heading past Morris.
In response to the goal, Lapslie replaced Rowe.
In the 66th minute, Nevitt had a half-chance when he met Nolan’s cross. However, his header lacked the power to properly test Day who made a comfortable stop.
Lapslie brought Gillingham level a couple of minutes later. Hutton played a ball down the line in behind the Cheltenham defence, allowing Nevitt to latch onto it. He took it to the byline before cutting it back to the edge of the box. Lapslie had made a bursting run to meet the ball, striking it first time, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Day rooted to his spot.
Dack replaced Jack Nolan on 71 minutes.
Clarke forced Day into a save as the hosts went in search of the winning goal. The wide man had his back to the net before turning onto his right foot and drilling a low-driven effort towards the near post. The Cheltenham goalkeeper could not keep a hold of it once again, but the linesman’s flag was soon raised for offside in a later passage of play.
In the 87th minute, Gills made two more substitutions. Shad Ogie and Josh Andrews entered the game for Hutton and Ethan Coleman respectively. The changes saw the hosts go to a back five, with Clarke slotting in at right wing-back and Ogie in the centre of the defence.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Dack came inches away from scoring the winner. Ogie floated a cross into the box, which Day could only punch as far as Dack. He side footed a volley goalward, lobbing the Cheltenham goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it hit the face of the crossbar before bouncing into the arms of Day.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 2-2 Cheltenham Town
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton (Ogie 87’), Masterson, Ehmer, Clark, Coleman (Andrews 87’), McKenzie, Clarke, Nolan (Dack 71’), Rowe (Lapslie 62’), Nevitt
Unused Substitutes: Turner, J. Williams, E. Williams
Cheltenham Town: Day, Jude-Boyd (Dulson 79’), Stubbs, Bakare, Bradbury, Young, Kinsella, Thomas, Colwill (Payne 57’), Archer, Miller (Taylor 78’)
Unused Substitutes: Evans, Laing, Bowman, Pett
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5938 (113 away fans)
