Gillingham earned their first point of the new League season with a draw at Fleetwood Town. 

But the bad luck that has haunted Gareth Ainsworth’s side already struck again as after losing skipper Liam Gordon and Armani Little, on this Saturday afternoon, Kadeem Harris was stretchered off and both Ronan Hale and Will Goodwin were denied by Fleetwood’s woodwork as that first win of the new season eluded the Gills again. 

Mark Helm and Lewis McCann had the best chances of a competitive first thirty minutes but failed to test Ashley Maynard-Brewer who again was in goal for the Gills. 

Goodwin had the Gills first chance – a header straight at keeper Jay Lynch – before the keeper was forced into grabbing another Goodwin header at the second attempt after some smart wing play from Dan Freeman. 

Nine minutes into the second period, Hale was denied by the woodwork as his magnificent drive beat the Fleetwood stopper all ends up and hit the post as the Gills thought they’d broken their scoring duck! 

Hale had another chance shortly after following good work from Harris and Goodwin which sadly came to nothing. 

The home side sprung into life with the introduction of Danny Andrew and from a corner with one of his first touches, a flying McCann powered a header past the Gills keeper only to see the Kent sides woodwork rattle this time! 

Harry Waldock made another encouraging appearance from the bench and was unlucky not to have created a late goal for the Gills as Millwall loanee Sheldon Kendall drove inches wide and Goodwin’s late effort clipped a post. 

The home side though so nearly had the last laugh as veteran striker Ched Evans stole in late and looped a very late that looked as though it might drop under Maynard-Brewer’s bar.  

Fortunately for all those in blue, the ball landed on the roof of the net and that first league point of the season was heading home down the M6. 

FLEETWOOD TOWN – Lynch, Neal, Potter, Bennett, Cannon (McLean), Davies (Loupalo-Bi), Helm, McCann, Evans, Rooney, Cirino (Andrew) 

Subs – Pradic, Murphy, Costelloe, Dempsey 

GILLINGHAM – Maynard-Brewer, Smith, Beckles, Dobbs, Freeman, Albarus, McKenzie (Waldock), Harris (McManus), Hale (Kendall), Brophy (Antwi), Goodwin 

Subs – Holtam, Webster, Booth 

Referee – Mr Baines 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC