Jack Tucker’s brilliant volley fifteen minutes from time earned Gillingham a vital point in their relegation battle whilst denting Wycombe Wanderers Play Off push.
Trailing to Sam Vokes’ 20th minute strike, Gillingham rallied after the break and fully deserved the point that the central defenders crunching volley in front of the Rainham End gave them. Indeed, in a frantic finale, Neil Harris’ side came agonisingly close to grabbing all three points following a big scramble, but the point now means that just goal difference separates the Gills from the two sides immediately above them on the “right” side of the drop line.
Skipper Stuart O’Keefe returned in the only change that had agonisingly been beaten at Sunderland the week before, whilst former Gillingham pair Brandon Hanlon and Bayo Akinfenwa were both on the Wycombe bench.
The home side started on the back foot and keeper Aaron Chapman pulled off a fine save to deny Gareth McLeary. The Gills stopper was beaten on twenty minutes when Hanlon – who had been an early substitute – found Vokes and the Wycombe number nine gave Chapman no chance with a fierce drive at the near post.
The visitors were well on top and could easily have doubled the lead as Daryl Horgan was allowed too much time and space but could only shoot straight at Chapman.
Despite being on the back foot, Gillingham missed a great chance to level on the half hour. Not for the first time this season, Ryan Jackson’s enormous throw caused chaos in the visitor’s box and after O’Keefe’s effort was blocked, Vadaine Oliver was inches away from levelling.
The boss made a tactical change at the break as he introduced Ben Reeves and the reorganisation changed the game and gave the home side real impetus.
Should the Gills have had a penalty twenty minutes after the break? Ben Thompson skipped though and managed to get the ball past keeper David Stockdale, but it hit a defender and despite loud and passionate appeals for a spot kick, referee Mather wasn’t interested.
With results elsewhere going against them, the Gills impetus was gathering momentum and Tucker brought a fine save out of Stockdale after connecting with Max Ehmer’s flick. That came on seventy-one minutes, and just four minutes later, Priestfield went wild as the young defender reacted instantly as Reeves’ free kick was half cleared and his volley flew into the bottom corner prompting wild scenes in the Rainham End behind the goal.
Sensing a vital win was there for the taking, the Gills went for it – Charlie Kelman had a shot well saved by Stockdale after Reeves had had a shot blocked with the rebound looping just too high.
Wycombe were well and truly on the back foot now and their cause wasn’t helped four minutes from time as Lewis Wing was dismissed for a crude challenge on Olly Lee.
In a bizarre finale, inches prevented a home win. Thompson’s drive nicked off sub-Tom Dickson-Peters. Stockdale reacted to the deflection but could only parry the ball and following up Oliver beat the keeper, but the visitors just about kept the ball out despite (for the second time in the afternoon) loud and passionate appeals and pleas to the contrary.
With Crewe’s relegation confirmed with defeat at Doncaster, there’s now “just” three places to the condemned. For Neil Harris and his side, Easter’s fixtures now become massive beyond comprehension as just a single goal now keeps the Gills the wrong side of the dreaded line.
With just three weeks left in the League One season, it really is perm three from five for the drop. The odds seem against both Doncaster and Wimbledon (five and three points from safety with poor goal differences), meaning that safety beckons almost certainly for two of the three sides on thirty-eight points – Fleetwood, Morecambe and Harris’ resurgent Gillingham…
GILLINGHAM – Chapman, Jackson, Tucker, Ehmer, Masterson (Reeves 46’), Tutonda (McKenzie), O’Keefe (Dickson-Peters), Lee, Thompson, Oliver, Kelman
Subs – Dahlberg, Maghoma, Akehurst, Chambers
WYCOMBE WANDERERS – Stockdale, Jacobson, Tafazolli, Vokes (Akinfenwa), Wing, McCleary, Horgan (Wheeler), Mehmeti (Hanlan), McCarthy, Scowem, Forino
Subs – Dickinson, Grimmer, Young, Obita
REFEREE – Mr Mather
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.