Gillingham and Swindon Town added another page to their two club’s rivalry by playing out a six goal thriller in the final analysis which probably helps the visitors’ cause more than their hosts.
It really adds a page to the history of the two clubs’ amazing rivalry which is now in its’ fifth decade, but across the years few ninety minutes between the sides could have been as compelling as this Saturday afternoon in Wiltshire.
The Gills were rocked going behind in the first minute before recovering beyond the wildest expectations of the biggest of the near thousand fans that made the trip from Priestfield as three times in a ten minute spell Neil Harris’ side found the net, or to put into perspective – as many goals as the club has previously scored on their League travels in the previous six months!
Sadly, Swindon showed why they are almost expected to reach the Play Offs at least by storming back courtesy of a double from former Premier League striker Charlie Austin. But after a late red card reduced the home side to ten men, the Gills could have snatched an incredible win late on but it wasn’t to be.
After winning the last two League games, the Gills were immediately on the back food as Jonny Phillips volleyed Swindon in front with less than sixty seconds on the clock.
How would the Gills respond? Well to put it in a single word it was unbelievable! Tom Nichols broke forward and his centre was brilliantly met by Tim Dieng and his header flew into the home net.
That was on just three minutes – four later Max Ehmer’s shot was handled (allegedly) and Will Wright stepped up to put the Gills in front on just ten minutes.
New heights were hit five minutes later as Nichols got himself on the scoresheet – his third in three games since arriving from Crawley Town – the striker doing really well to glance a header (from Alex MacDonald’s free kick) beyond the keeper and sent the near thousand travelling fans into ecstasy… Three goals in ten minutes after the much quoted scoring problems really does take your breath away!
The home side were shell shocked and it was only at the start of the second period that they came into the game when Saidou Khan forced Glenn Morris into his first real test of the day.
They were given a lifeline just before the hour when the referee gave a second penalty – this time against the Gills spot kick scorer Wright – and Austin accepted the gift to pull the home side to within one with half an hour to go!
Red wave after red wave couldn’t breach the Gills back line, until sadly a centre on seventy eight minutes that found Austin who used his experience and undoubted quality to thump a header beyond Morris to level the scores.
The plot turned again ten minutes from time when Khan was shown a second yellow card sending the home side down to ten men, but with both sides having chances, no one really looked like winning it.
Honours even then, but was it two points dropped for the Gills after being 3-1 up?
Possibly, but when you find yourselves in Gillingham’s position going into a game against a Play Off chasing team, a point should definitely be cherished as the 2023 revival continues – next stop a sold out Priestfield for another six pointer… this time against Crawley Town next Saturday.
In the meantime, Gillingham fans will be hoping that by this time next week, the side will be out of the bottom two of League Two.
SWINDON TOWN – Brynn, Hutton, Iandolo (Shade H/T), Williams (Hepburn-Murphy H/T), Blake-Tracy, Lavinier, Khan, Wakeling (Darcy 72), Brennan (Minturn 74), Austin, Jephcott (Cain H/T).
Subs not used – Copland, Kanu.
Goals: Williams (1), Austin (57, pen 78).
Booked: Khan (41). Brennan (69).
Sent Off: Khan (81).
GILLINGHAM – Morris, McKenzie, Wright, Ehmer, Tutonda, Williams, MacDonald (Masterson 62), Jefferies (Kashket 87), Dieng, Nichols (Lapslie 73), Hawkins.
Subs not used – Turner, Alexander, Adelakun, Gbode.
Goals: Dieng (3), Wright (pen 9), Nichols (13).
Booked: Dieng (24), Nichols (44).
REFEREE – Mr Paul Howard
Attendance: 10,259
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.