Max Clark’s second-half penalty ensured Gillingham came away from Harrogate Town with a point, as Gareth Ainsworth’s first game in charge ended in a 1-1 draw at The Exercise Stadium.
The hosts took the lead in the first half from the penalty spot. Josh March latched onto a wayward header before taking the ball beyond Glenn Morris. However, he had his ankles clipped by the goalkeeper, leading to the referee awarding the spot kick. March stepped up and sent the Gills goalkeeper the wrong way as he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
Gills were awarded a penalty of their own in the 67th minute. Euan Williams and Oli Hawkins, who had entered the game minutes beforehand, were involved in winning the spot kick. Williams had his strong effort blocked, and the loose ball came to Hawkins, who was tripped by a defender as he shaped to shoot. The forward went down, and the referee was quick to blow his whistle and give the penalty.
Clark, who was selected to take penalties by Ainsworth, kept his cool and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, sending James Belshaw the wrong way.
Ainsworth made one change to the starting XI for his first game in charge against Harrogate. Jonny Williams came into the line-up in place of Armani Little, who missed out due to suspension.
Taite Holtam was recalled from his loan spell at Ashford United to provide cover for Glenn Morris. Shad Ogie, Jayden Clarke and Aaron Rowe were recalled to the matchday squad.
Elliott Nevitt had an early half-chance. Gills moved the ball quickly, with Nevitt holding off a defender before laying it off to Jimmy-Jay Morgan, who passed into the feet of Joe Gbode. He fizzed it out to Remeao Hutton down the right, who curled a cross into the box. He found Nevitt, but the striker could not get the correct contact with the ball, as he headed wide of the target.
In the ninth minute, Jonny Williams came close. Gbode made his way down the left wing before attempting to cross. The ball was cleared as far as Max Clark on the edge of the penalty area, who shaped to shoot. However, he opted to square it to Williams, who shifted the ball onto his left foot before curling towards the goal. His attempt left James Belshaw rooted to his spot but it whistled just wide of the target.
The referee soon had a decision to make as Sam Gale and Josh March competed for the ball inside the penalty area. March went down, but the official was quick to award Gillingham a free-kick for a dive, booking the Harrogate man.
The hosts should have done better after they capitalised on a blocked clearance. It set Jack Muldoon away down the left-hand side before he made his way into the penalty area. Muldoon cut onto his right foot before directing a low-driven shot towards the near post. However, it proved a comfortable save for Glenn Morris, who got down to gather.
Harrogate were awarded a penalty on 39 minutes. March capitalised on a wayward header, entering the penalty area before prodding it past the oncoming Morris. However, he clipped the forward’s ankles, causing March to trip inside the box, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
From the resulting spot kick, March gave the hosts the lead. He slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, with Morris going the opposite way.
HALF-TIME: Harrogate Town 1-0 Gillingham
Jasper Moon had a great opportunity three minutes into the second period. March sent a cross in from the right, with Moon getting across his marker to meet the ball. Fortunately, he was off balance, sending his attempt wide of the target.
In the 64th minute, the visitors made their first two changes. Euan Williams and Oli Hawkins entered the game, replacing Morgan and Gbode.
Three minutes later, the substitutes were involved as Gillingham were awarded a penalty. Euan Williams did well to get beyond a couple of players before shooting inside the penalty area. His fierce attempt was well blocked, but the loose ball came to Hawkins, who was tripped by a Harrogate defender as he went to shoot. The referee was quick to blow his whistle and point to the penalty spot.
Clark took the spot kick for Gillingham and brought them back onto level terms. The left-back slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, sending Belshaw the wrong way.
Muldoon forced Morris into action a few minutes later. There was a challenge inside the penalty area that the home supporters believed should have been a penalty. The loose ball came into the path of Muldoon, who drilled a shot goalward. It was straight at Morris, who palmed clear before the visitors won a goal kick.
Soon after, March had a half-chance. Bryn Morris sent a free-kick into the penalty area from the right touchline. It found March, who attempted to head the ball towards the far corner. However, it lacked the power to cause Gillingham any issues.
In the 82nd minute, Clarke replaced Jonny Williams.
Toby Sims tried his luck, causing some panic. Morris attempted to punch clear a free-kick into the penalty area, but it was headed clear by a Gillingham player. The ball came to Sims on the edge of the penalty, who spotted Morris off his line and sent a looping volley towards the goal. Fortunately, it had too much height on it as it floated over the crossbar.
Moments later, Hawkins came close. Clarke did well getting down the left before cutting a cross back from the byline. It found Hawkins, who had to reach back to direct his volley goalward, with his attempt flashing over the crossbar.
With a little over three minutes remaining, Jacob Wakeling replaced Nevitt.
In the first seconds of stoppage time, Tom Cursons wasted a massive opportunity. Warren Burrell went on a driving run from halfway into the Gillingham penalty area before cutting it back to an unmarked Cursons on the penalty spot. However, he fired his first-time effort well over the crossbar.
Clarke came close with a snapshot soon after. The visitors pushed forward, and Wakeling tried his luck. His attempt was blocked into the path of Clarke, who shot first time with his left foot. It had plenty of power but fizzed just wide of the near post.
FULL-TIME: Harrogate Town 1-1 Gillingham
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Moon, Burrell, Daly (Cursons 61’), Sims, O’Connor, Muldoon, Taylor, March, Fox, Morris
Unused Substitutes: Oxley, Asare, Cornelius, Sanderson, Dooley, Gibson
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, Masterson, Gale, Clark, McKenzie, J. Williams (Clarke 82’), Morgan (E. Williams 64’), Gbode (Hawkins 64’), Nevitt (Wakeling 87’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Ogie, Rowe
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 3253 (501 Gillingham supporters)
