An own goal from Jordan Turnbull ensured that Gillingham left Prenton Park with a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
John Coleman handed full debuts to Nelson Khumbeni and Jimmy-Jay Morgan, while Bradley Dack returned to the starting XI. Oli Hawkins was fit enough to make the subs bench.
Morgan had a half-chance in the fifth minute. Jack Nolan received the ball on the left before cutting onto his right foot and playing the ball towards the penalty area. Robbie McKenzie flicked it on into the path of Morgan, who was forced wide of the goal. With a defender pressuring him, the Chelsea loanee shot from a tight angle into the side netting.
Omari Patrick had a good chance after the visitors failed to clear the ball. It went out to Cameron Norman, who floated a cross deep into the box for Patrick, who headed down straight at Glenn Morris in the Gillingham goal.
In the 17th minute, Sol Solomon put Tranmere in front. The ball was played through for Patrick down the left wing, who delivered towards a central position for Solomon to slam home from close range.
The hosts came close to adding a second when Solomon struck goalward from the edge of the penalty area following a corner. The ball went towards Josh Davison, who attempted to flick it goalward. Fortunately, he failed to make the desired contact and it went out of play for a goal-kick.
Tranmere continued to apply pressure when Gills could not clear their lines. The ball came to Connor Wood, who drilled a shot across goal towards the far post, fizzing it wide of the target.
In the 26th minute, Morgan had a great opportunity. The Chelsea loanee had an attempt blocked, and the loose ball came to Dack, who dinked a cross towards the back post, with Morgan unmarked. However, he could not get enough power on his header, and Luke McGee managed to catch the attempt.
Shad Ogie was on hand to make a crucial block in preventing Tranmere from doubling their lead. Patrick did well in carrying the ball into the penalty area before playing it towards the six-yard box. Solomon was the one to meet it, side-footing it goalward. Fortunately, Ogie was on hand to block the ball before the visitors cleared their lines.
On the stroke of half-time, Gillingham got back on level terms. Nolan took a short free-kick to Armani Little, who played the ball towards Dack down the left of the penalty area. He played the ball into the six-yard box, with Jordan Turnbull getting the defining touch to put it into the back of his own net.
HALF-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Gillingham
Gills started the second half brightly with a couple of half-chances. The first came from Little, who struck from distance. He sent his right-footed effort wide of the target.
The second opportunity started with a throw before Nolan switched the play to Remeao Hutton, who floated a peach of a cross into the penalty area. It dropped to McKenzie, who found himself in space and tried to guide a header on target. Unfortunately, he could not get the angle on his attempt as it bounced harmlessly wide.
The visitors made their first change on 58 minutes when Max Clark replaced Khumbeni. The substitution saw a move to a back four. McKenzie moved up into the centre of midfield alongside Little. Nolan, Dack and Morgan occupied the three positions behind Nevitt, who led the line.
Ehmer did brilliantly to deny Davison shortly after. The forward had got the ball towards the box before shifting it onto his left foot and striking goalward. The Gillingham captain remained focused before perfectly timing his sliding block to prevent the ball from going near Morris’ goal.
In the 73rd minute, Hawkins made his return to action when he replaced Morgan.
Gillingham made their third and final change on 80 minutes when Jayden Clarke came on for Nolan.
McKenzie was denied by a block after good work from Ehmer to cut out a ball forward. McKenzie had plenty of space to carry the ball forward before shooting, as his attempt was deflected wide for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Tranmere should have done better. They caught the visitors on the counter in a four-on-two situation. Harvey Saunders, who had recently come on, carried the ball forward with two players unmarked in the middle, making runs. Saunders did not get his head up and continued to run before shooting. His attempt was blocked before Gillingham cleared their lines.
The hosts pushed for a late winner, but Gills stood firm and came away with a hard-fought point.
FULL-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Gillingham
Tranmere Rovers: McGee, Norman, Davis, Turnbull, Wood, Khan (Hawkes 78’), Solomon, Morris (Finley 46’), Davison (Dennis 78’), Patrick (Saunders 78’), Jennings
Unused Substitutes: Murphy, Bradshaw, O’Connor
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, McKenzie, Ehmer, Ogie, Nolan (Clarke 80’), Khumbeni (Clark 58’), Little, Dack, Morgan (Hawkins 73’), Nevitt
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Coleman, J. Williams, Gbode
Referee: Michael Barlow
Attendance: 5496
