Gillingham started their League season with a come from behind draw from their trip to Accrington Stanley.
After Tyler Watson put Stanley in front midway through the second period, Armani Little’s vicious corner was flicked into his own net by a home defender with less than ten minutes left, sending the Gills skipper dancing away in front of the travelling support that topped a magnificent 600.
After an opening half hour of feeling each other out, the Gills’ first real chance of the League season fell to Robbie McKenzie who fired Max Clark’s free kick over with Conor Masterson lying in wait whilst Joe Gbode shot over after being brilliantly put through by Jonny Williams.
The home side’s best chance came just before half time when Watson was denied by a sliding challenge by Glenn Morris – the Gills stopper doing really well out of his area to play the ball off the Stanley striker and the danger was gone.
Watson gave the home side the advantage with a little over twenty minutes left firing into the bottom corner and it was a lead that was too last a little over ten minutes.
Little skimmed a corner into the near post in the direction of both Elliot Nevitt and Josh Andrews and in an effort to clear, Devon Matthews could only divert the ball into his own net.
The home side tried to force a winner but Masterson and co at the back held firm and the Gills’ recent good run at Accrington continued – it’s now eight visits without defeat since the last reverse in January 2012!
ACCRINGTON STANLEY – Kelly, Matthews, Rawson, Smith, Love, Grant, Coyle, B Woods, Sinclair, Walton (Mooney 85), Caton (J Woods 58).
Subs not used – Wright, Henderson, Popoola, Brown, Conneely.
Goal: Walton (66).
Booked: Matthews (49), Grant (66).
GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Masterson, Ogie, Clark, Little, McKenzie, Jonny Williams (Andrews 74), Dack (Khumbeni 74), Gbode (Gale 85), Nevitt (Wyllie 80).
Subs not used – Turner, Smith, Coleman.
Goal: Matthews (og 79).
Booked: Gbode (14), Ogie (610.
REFEREE – Mr. Ollie Yates
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC