Town earn a point against Gillingham.
Town: Joel Coleman, Josh Emmanuel, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Greg Docherty, Lee Angol, Aaron Amadi-Holloway (Lenell John-Lewis, 76), Luke Waterfall, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant (Alex Gilliead, 87).
Subs: Steve Arnold, Fejiri Okenabirhie, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead, Josh Laurent, Ryan Barnett.
Gillingham: Tomas Holy, Luke O’Neill, Bradley Garmston (Barry Fuller, 55), Alex Lacey, Max Ehmer, Gabriel Zakuani, Brandon Hanlan, Dean Parrett (Josh Rees, 65), Callum Reilly, Josh Parker (Tom Eaves, 68), Mark Bryne.
Subs: Tom Eaves, Conor Wilkinson, Barry Fuller, Navid Nasseri, Aaron Simpson, Josh Rees, Tom Hadler.
Referee: Ross Joyce
Assistants: Kevin Mulraine and Hristo Karaivanov
Fourth official: Paul Hodskinson
Attendance: 5695 (217)
Town earn a point at home after a physical game against Gillingham at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Lee Angol and Ollie Norburn were the goal scorers for Town as their team earned a deserved point.
Team News: John Askey makes one change to his starting line-up to face Gillingham. Alex Gilliead starts on the bench as Aaron Amadi-Holloway starts up top with Lee Angol.
First-Half:
The opening 10 minutes was a physical affair for both sides. The Gills and Town’s midfield particularly were battling hard in the middle of the park to obtain possession. Anthony Grant and Aaron Amadi-Hollway were doing well to impose themselves physically on the opposition, but neither team could sustain a period of time with the ball.
Despite the 50/50 possession, Town were getting chances and winning corners. Luke Waterfall came close for Askey’s men, but the ball kept rising above the bar from the defenders headed effort.
Gills number seven Brandon Hanlan broke the deadlock in the 18th minute. The winger latched onto a fumbled ball inside the box and poked home from all of six yards.
Town came very close to equalising with 15 minutes to go in the half. Shaun Whalley zipped in a wonderful cross towards Amadi-Holloway, and the striker struck a firm header towards goal, but Tomas Holy did well to claim the ball.
Pressure was beginning to mount on Steve Lovell’s men as the game was starting to swing in Town’s favour. Whalley was causing the Gills left-back problems, but the winger’s crossed efforts would go to waste as the Gills defenders were clearing the ball well.
Town went into the break one goal down on the score-sheet. Despite entering the break the losing side – Askey’s men were very much the team in the ascendancy, creating the main bulk of the games chances.
Second-Half:
Early on in the half Greg Docherty was given a yellow card for pulling down one of his opponents near the halfway line.
Town were given a chance to get themselves on the score-sheet after Docherty was fouled just outside of the Gills box. Whalley whipped in a cross, but Josh Parker put the ball out for a corner, which didn’t amount to anything for Town.
Anthony Grant was the next Town player to have the fans off their seat. A good delivery from Whalley found it’s way to Grant, who was unable to guide the ball towards goal.
Lee Angol had the fans cheering shortly after, as the striker found the back of the net – equalising for Town in the 59th minute. Angol got on the end of Ollie Norburn’s pass and struck the ball on the half volley into the corner of the goal – giving Town the deserved equaliser.
Omar Beckles was given a yellow card in the 79th minute for pulling down Tom Eaves. The resulting free kick was close for the Gills but just missed the target.
Town were very much in the driving seat as the game was beginning to close out. The Gills were being pressured with lofted balls and crosses, but Town couldn’t find the cutting edge and notch a winner.
Whalley was once again being a pain for the Gills left back. Town’s number seven delivered in a driven cross, which was met by Ollie Norburn – the centre midfielder pounced on the chance and put the ball into the back of the net in the 88th minute.
Within two minutes Gillingham registered an equaliser through Tom Eaves. The striker broke through the back line and slotted home the ball into the left-hand corner.
The game ended 2-2 on the scoreboard, as Tom Eaves slotted home for the visitors late in the game.