A 94th minute equaliser denied Gillingham three points against old enemy Swindon Town on a night of sensational football in the Priestfield swirling rain.
Games between the two sides are traditionally rough and tough – this was so different with fast flowing football played by both sides, a moment of absolute South American breath-taking skill, three near miraculous goal line clearances and a sensational reflex save with the very last kick of the game to deny the home side a famous win.
After a fast frantic opening, it was former Swindon man, Remeao Hutton’s swinging deep cross that almost embarrassed keeper Jack Bycroft as it seemed to be dropping over the keeper’s head before a desperate back pedal to palm the ball over the bar.
The Gills did have the ball in the net when Conor Masterson smashed the ball home from a Jonny Williams pass, but the flag denied the home side the lead – a lead that Swindon snatched moments later totally against the run of play.
The ball fell to Sean McGurk from a fortunate ricochet and after steading himself, the Swindon man arrowed a shot into the top corner leaving Jake Turner helpless.
The goal scorer then saw a shot beaten out by the keeper as the Gills rocked, but full credit to Stephen Clemence’s side as they rallied – Masterson skied an effort after Williams and Hutton combined and then Josh Walker was bravely denied by Bycroft after Williams threaded a ball through.
On the stroke of half time Paul Glatzel thought he had doubled Swindon’s lead as he was clean through on Turner and rounded the keeper. With the goal seemingly at his mercy, Shad Ogie appeared from nowhere to miraculously deny the striker, but at a huge cost where the big defender was left in considerable pain and was helped from the pitch not to return as the half time whistle blew.
Ogie was replaced by Connor Mahoney at the break with Walker replaced by Jorge Hurtado, and what a 45 minutes the young Columbian was to have!
Veteran striker Charlie Austin, whose battle with Gills skipper Max Ehmer rolled back the years to traditional centre forward against central defender was a joy to watch, missed the second half’s first chance as he failed to hit the target from 15 yards.
Gills thought they’d equalised when Masterson crashed a header against Swindon’s bar from a terrific ball in from the right, but appeals that the ball crossed the line were rightly waved away by referee Bourne.
The pendulum swung to the other end and Ehmer brilliantly cleared the ball off the line as a low shot had beaten Turner.
The end to end the game continued as from another delightful Hutton cross, Oli Hawkins powered a header that hit the outside of the right post much to the big striker’s frustration.
However, the ball stayed in play, and Max Clark whipped the ball back into the danger zone and Hawkins took his frustration out on the ball as he powered the equaliser into the bottom corner.
The home side now roared on by a packed crowd who were rampant and the faithful were then treated to arguably the greatest bit of skill this reporter has seen in 46 years of watching the Gills.
Enter the young Columbian Hurtado. He brilliantly won the ball in the centre circle but facing his own goal. In a flash he turned one man and was away leaving two defenders in his wake, he raced towards the box beating two more red shirts who were left on the deck before being completely taken out by Frazer Blake-Terry.
The defender was rightly booked, and the Gills awarded a spot kick which Hurtado wanted to take until his skipper arrived and put an arm around the youngster to calm him down – Mahoney was given the task from the spot and the ball disappeared into the bottom corner of Bycroft’s net.
Four minutes into stoppage time, the visitors grabbed an equaliser as McKirdy bent the ball through the crowd after the Gills failed to clear a corner which was needlessly conceded in the first place!
But even then the drama wasn’t over as Ethan Coleman glanced a Mahoney corner inches wide of the far post and then with the final play of the game, another Mahoney corner fell to Masterson who hammered the ball goalwards and incredibly Bycroft managed to get a hand up in time to divert the ball over the bar as the referee’s final whistle blew to end an amazing night for football.
The home side would have felt deflated at the way Swindon got their point and denied the Gills the points they probably just about deserved.
Yes, a brilliant stop at the end denied the biggest of grandstand finishes, but Gillingham did clear three off their own line so…
A magnificent night of League Two football keeps the Gills in the hunt for the Play Off places level on points with seventh-placed Notts County, but in a log jam where just two points separating six sides as Clemence prepares to take his side to South Wales on Saturday and a date with Newport County.
GILLINGHAM – Turner, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie (Mahoney H/T), Max Clark, Coleman, Dieng (McKenzie 84), Jonny Williams (Malone 74), Hawkins (Lapslie 84), Walker (Hurtado H/T).
Subs not used – Morris, Nadesan.
Goals: Hawkins (68), Mahoney (pen 79).
Booked: Dieng (52).
SWINDON TOWN – Bycroft, Godwin-Malife, McCarthy, Blake-Tracy, Cain (Drinan H/T), Devoy, McEachran (Brewitt 84), Kokolo, Glatzel (Elbouzedi 70), Austin (Hepburn-Murphy 63), McGurk (McKirdy 62).
Subs not used – Brann, Minturn.
Goals: McGurk (24), McKirdy (94).
Booked: Blake-Tracy (78), McEachran (83).
REFEREE – Mr Declan Bourne
Attendance: 6096 (264 Swindon).
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.