Gillingham extended their unbeaten run to eight games as Gareth Ainsworth’s unbeaten start to life in The Gills hot seat continued.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan gave Ainsworth’s side a flying start by racing onto Jack Nolan’s great ball to open the scoring in the second minute drilling home into the bottom corner, but the home side levelled when Sam Stubbs’ looping header crept home.
Glenn Morris was missing in goal – Tait Holtam ably deputising again – and skipper Amami Little was another who missed the trip! Tim Dieng missed out for the home side as a term of the loan agreement between the two sides and Ainsworth made two other changes with Aaron Rowe and Euan Williams missing out.
The Gills were out of the blocks remarkably quick and as Nolan found Morgan, the Chelsea loanee beat home keeper Joe Day from the edge of the box to open the scoring.
The home keeper was tested shortly afterwards as Elliott Nevitt was denied before Arkle Jude-Boyd tested Holtam for the first time in the game with a low drive which the young keeper saved superbly.
Cheltenham levelled at the half’s mid-way point when Stubbs headed home Ryan Haynes’ corner and despite Nevitt’s efforts the ball trickled over the line!
Jordan Thomas fired wide of the Gills goal before Haynes curled a free kick over Holtam’s bar, but should Gillingham have been in front at the break? Max Clark’s free kick was headed over Day, but as Sam Gale bundled the ball over the line, referee Scott ruled out was what potentially the youngster’s first Gills goal.
Day denied Morgan early in the second half whilst Remeao Hutton did well to clear Jude-Boyd’s mishit cross as the chances came at both ends. Nolan found Nevitt whose shot was blocked but the ball fell to Gale and his ball flashed across the face of goal.
Holtam pulled off a stunning save to keep out an Ethan Williams strike whilst at the other end Day did well to deny Gale’s header from Clark’s corner as the keeper clawed the ball away from the foot of a post.
Sub-Oli Hawkins was denied a stoppage time winner with an angled header which thudded into Day’s chest, but honours were even in the Good Friday sunshine.
Back to MEMS Priestfield for Easter Monday and promotion seeking AFC Wimbledon, but the faithful’s focus must surely now be beginning to look ahead to the last home game of the season, looking ahead to the horizon with old foes Swindon Town coming to Kent on Saturday.
Cheltenham Town – Day, Jude-Boyd, Stubbs, Bennett (Bradbury H/T), Haynes (Bakare 80), Kinsella, Backwell, Thomas, Archer (Williams 61), Dulson (Hay 61), Miller (Taylor 61).
Subs not used – Diallo, Tustin.
Goal: Stubbs (22).
Gillingham – Holtam, Hutton, Gale, Masterson, Ogie, Max Clark, Khumbeni (Rowe 84), McKenzie, Nolan (Jonny Williams 71), Morgan (Dack 60), Nevitt (Hawkins 84).
Subs not used – Jayden Clarke, Agbinone, Gbode.
Goal: Morgan (2).
Booked: Hutton (57), Nevitt (76).
Referee – Mr. Graham Scott
Attendance: 4702 (732 Gills).
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.