After an afternoon of frustration, Elliott Nevitt’s last gasp leveler grabbed Gillingham a point as Cheltenham Town threatened the ultimate smash and grab at MEMS Priestfield. 

It was probably just as well that boss Gareth Ainsworth wasn’t at home base as he was at home after his recent heart operation as the Gills knocked on the door of the Cheltenham goal time and time and time again without being able to force the ball past Joe Day, and when, with just three minutes of the ninety left, Sam Sheering headed the visitors in front, Gillingham were staring at their fourth defeat in a row.

But with thing this Gills squad has under Ainsworth and acting boss Richard Dobson is a never say die attitude and a sense that they are never beaten, and with the final minute of the five added by referee Chilowicz, Nevitt finally hammered the ball low into the Cheltenham net sparking wild scenes of joy amongst the Priestfield faithful! 

The tone was set early on when Day denied Seb Palmer-Houlden his first Gillingham goal at Priestfield with a fine save. Sam Vokes then found the side netting after getting on the end of a Robbie McKenzie pull back and the former Welsh international went closer still as he thumped a drive into Day’s chest. 

Ethon Archer thought he’d given Cheltenham the lead when his effort deflected off a Gills defender, but Glenn Morris made a truly magnificent save to keep the ball out as the Rainham End held its collective breathe! 

As the half ended both sides had chances – Shad Ogie could only head a Max Clark free-kick straight at Day, whilst Hutchinson crashed an effort off of Morris’s post with the Gills keeper, for once, beaten. 

Vokes went close again early in the second period but just couldn’t reach Clark’s excellent ball into the centre and the visitors goal then had a remarkable let off as Jonny Williams’s corner deceived everyone and crashed off the face of Day’s crossbar. 

Nevitt was denied by Day – after replacing Palmer-Houlden – as he got on the end of a good ball from Vokes as the Gills kept knocking on the visitors door, before disaster struck, as Hutchinson hit the frame of the home goal for a second time but on this occasion Sherring reacted quickest to head the rebound into the net. 

Remeao Hutton was denied by Day and McKenzie fired over as the Gills oiled forward in search of what was now an equaliser but all seemed lost as time ticked by! 

But as we have said before this season, this Gillingham side is nothing but resilient, and they showed all of that resilience as with the clock showing ninety-five minutes, Nevitt drilled home his first goal of the season to give Dobson and his players a deserved point” 

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Gale, Andy Smith, Ogie, Clark (Cirino), Coleman, McKenzie, Jonny Williams (Dack), Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt), Vokes (Wyllie) 

Subs – Turner, Akomeah, Khumbeni   

CHELTENHAM TOWN – Day, Jude-Boyd, Wilson, Sherring, Tomkinson, Stevenson, Young, Hutchinson, Archer (Kinsella), Bickerstaff (Taylor), Martin (Thomas) 

Subs – Diallo, Power, Harmon, Broom 

Referee – Mr. Chilowicz 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC