Ten man Gillingham clung on for a point at Priestfield as debutant Haji Mnoga was sent off after just ten minutes against Swindon Town.

Why did we ever expect anything different from a Gillingham v Swindon Town fixture other than controversy all over the place and despite the continued lack of goals, the home faithful would have appreciated the monumental effort their heroes had put into a really hard-earned deserved point.

On the day that Gillingham 2022 set an unwanted record of time between League goals, Neil Harris’ side battled just about everything to earn what in the end was a terrific point following Haji Mnoga’s tenth minute sending off left the Gills facing eighty minutes a man down.

In a really open start, Swindon went close early on with the big Ben Gladwin firing wide. Despite being down to ten, Gillingham almost took advantage of a big mistake by Angus MacDonald as the incredibly industrious Ben Reeves laid the ball back for Mikael Mandron whose first time shot cannoned off the recovering MacDonald and flew into the crowd.

It was the start of nightmares for the young on loan Portsmouth defender as although Mnoga was perhaps unfortunate to be cautioned for the game’s first foul, his second card came after a clumsy coming together with Jonny Williams which to the amazement of the home fans, saw referee Woods brandish a second yellow card inside the opening ten minutes.

If that’s the way that officials want to operate, all managers, players, and fans alike desire is consistency from the officials. Mr Woods sadly thought he’d done his job and suddenly became the most lenient referee in the League as Saidou Khan was very fortunate not to at least follow Mnoga to the dressing room early as two crunching challenges went completely unpunished!

As the Gills regrouped – with Hakeeb Adelakun filling in magnificently at right back – they almost stunned the visitors by taking the lead. Scott Kashket was played in down the left and with the angle tightening by the minute – and Mandron unmarked square – the Gills man went for goal and thumped the ball against the outside of the Swindon post with keeper Sol Bryan well beaten.

The visitors were enjoying masses of possession without really testing Glenn Morris in the home goal – until that is until first half stoppage save when Morris produced a really remarkable reflex save to keep out Frazer Blake-Tracy’s thumping header.

Swindon came out after the break with it seemed an extra purpose as they bossed the game leaving the incredibly hard working Kashket chasing and covering so much of the Priestfield playing area, and how they didn’t take the lead just before the hour, only they will know. Fraser-Tracy again met a corner with a firm header, but this time team-mate Luke Jephcott almost cleared the ball off the line by hooking over from a matter of yards out!

Tyrese Shade was then denied by an incredible full-length Morris save as the keeper plunged away to his right to beat the shot away before Angus MacDonald sent a shot heading towards Gillingham High Street when he surely had to at least force the impressive Morris into action.

Brynn was almost left red faced by Alex MacDonald as the keeper came well out of his box to contest a challenge which luckily for the Swindon keeper bounced away from the Gills sub.

Shade then was denied by another magnificent Morris save – this time low through the crowd which the keeper palmed round his right post. Not even nearly seven minutes of stoppage time was going to deny the ten men the point that they deserved and the heroes in blue – of which Max Ehmer and Elkan Baggott were outstanding and the very foundations of the clean sheet – rightly took the plaudits at the final whistle.

A terrific rear-guard performance – all that was missing was a last gasp home winner…

The point sees Gillingham stay 21st in League One, with Harris’ side now facing trips to Crawley Town next Saturday and Grimsby Town three days later.

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Mnoga, Ehmer, Baggott, Law, O’Keefe, Shaun Williams, Adelakun (Tutonda 90), Reeves (MacDonald 72), Kashket (Wright 79), Mandron (Walker 72).

Subs not used – Turner, Green.

Booked: Mnoga (6).

Sent Off: Mnoga (10).

SWINDON TOWN – Brynn, Clayton, Reed, Gladwon, Jonny Williams, Blake Tracey, Angus MacDonald, Lavinier, Khan (Darcy 62), Wakeling (Jephcott 54), Shade.

Subs not used – Brann, Hutton, Baudry, Agular, Brennan.

Booked: Williams (55).

REFEREE – Mr Martin Woods

Attendance: 4,927

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.