Squandered chances cost Gillingham as they lost on the road to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night.
Despite going 1-0 up in the first half with Ronan Hale’s clinical finish, the Gills were undone by two second-half goals from the home side, including a spectacular stoppage-time winner.
Gillingham had plenty of chances in the first half to increase their lead, but some poorly-placed shots combined with a great performance from the Cheltenham keeper, Joe Day, meant the Kent side left empty-handed.
Gillingham came into the game unbeaten in three games and, with no danger of relegation, it offered Gareth Ainsworth the opportunity to rotate his squad and his system.
Ainsworth made four changes to the side who drew 0-0 away at Salford. Robbie McKenzie and Connor Masterson returned to the starting lineup following lengthy injury lay-offs. Bradley Dack and Sam Vokes were also selected as Lenni Cirino, Nelson Khumbeni, Garath McCleary and Seb Palmer-Houlden all dropped to the bench.
Steve Cotterill made only one change to the side who won 0-4 away at Walsall. Josh Davison started ahead of George Miller, who dropped to the bench.
The first clear chance at goal came from the home side. In the opening minutes, Jake Bickerstaff made a mazy run into the Gillingham penalty area and fired a shot low to Glenn Morris’ left, which was parried away by the veteran keeper.
The home side continued to enjoy the majority of attacking possession with the Gills defence working hard to block some early attempts.
However, against the run of play, Gillingham opened the scoring. From a goal kick, Vokes managed to flick on a header while under pressure from two defenders, which found Ronan Hale. Hale initially looked to go round the outside of the defender but then cut inside and placed a low shot into the bottom-left corner for his second goal in April.
The goal gave the Gills some momentum as they began to create opportunities. Little had a chance that was smothered by Joe Day. Dack then had two shots in quick succession that were both saved expertly by Day.
Dack thought he’d made it 2-0 with a brilliant cross from distance that went in, possibly via a deflection from Vokes who was judged to be offside.
Hale was clear on goal again two minutes later, but his shot was too close to Day, who parried it behind for a corner which came to nothing.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Cheltenham looked more threatening. They had a series of corners in quick succession which drew some organised defensive work from the Kent side, with Masterson making an impressive block at full stretch just in front of goal.
The first big chance of the second half fell to Gillingham. A Dack free kick from the right was flicked on past the penalty area but kept in by Masterson. The ball fell to Andy Smith in the centre of the box who shot with his left foot, but it was kept out by Day’s legs to add to his tally of saves.
Cotterill made three substitutions in the 59th minute to try to change the direction of the game. George Nurse, Ryan Broom and Mo Faal came on for Arkell Jude-Boyd, Jake Bickerstaff and Josh Davison.
The substitutions worked as Cheltenham found an equaliser.
The ball was played through to Luke Young on the right wing deep in the Gillingham half. He beat the offside trap and crossed to the back post where Isaac Hutchinson converted with his right foot into the bottom-left corner.
Ainsworth responded to the setback with a substitution and a change in formation. Masterson was replaced by Nelson Khumbeni, meaning a shift from three at the back to a flat four with more presence in midfield.
Gillingham suffered more bad fortune when Smith went down injured with a knock to the head. He was replaced by Garath McCleary, meaning McKenzie had to move into defence.
As the half progressed, both sides struggled to create any clear chances with some scrappy play at both ends of the pitch.
In the fifth minute of injury time, just as both teams looked happy to settle for a draw, Cheltenham found a winner.
Faal pounced on a loose, bouncing ball towards the edge of the Gillingham box. He volleyed it powerfully past Morris into the top right-hand corner.
The Gills searched for a last-minute equaliser, but the final whistle blew just after Hutton had a shot blocked on the edge of the area.
The result is reminiscent of many Gillingham performances earlier in the season in that Gillingham had the lion’s share of the chances to score and really should have been two or three goals up at half time. Their inability to put games to bed when they have the momentum is not a recent phenomenon and it is the main issue that will need addressing as they move into the new season.
Cheltenham: Day, Jude-Boyd (Nurse 59’), Ashfield (Martin 90+6’), Wilson, Cundy, Young, Davison (Faal 59’), Thomas (Miller 90+4’), Bickerstaff (Broom 59’), Hutchinson, Tomkinson.
Subs Not Used: Deeming, Diallo.
Goals: Hutchinson 63’, Faal 90+5’)
Booked: Faal 74’
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Masterson, Smith (McCleary 77’), Little, McKenzie, Vokes (Palmer-Houlden 78’), Dack (Williams 90 +3’), Gale, Hale (Andrews 77’).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Cirino.
Goals: Hale 18’
Booked:
HT 0 – 1 FT 0 – 0
Attendance: 3161 (235 Gills).
Referee: Mr Harrison Blair
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.