Gillingham defied the odds yet again to salvage a late, late point at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday as super sub-Joe Gbode grabbed the goal that maintains Gareth Ainsworth’s unbeaten League run since coming to MEMS Priestfield in March. 

Behind to Omari Patrick’s controversial opener – the Tranmere man set up by Kristan Davies who “returned” from a clear offside position to provide the direct assist – the Gills battled back and after a scramble in the home box two minutes into stoppage time Gbode stuck out a foot and Ainsworth’s side had a point that their performance richly deserved. 

The game ended though with Max Clark dismissed for a coming together with Cameron Norman that hardly warranted anything, but referee Bourne cautioned both players and for Clark it was his second of the afternoon!  

In a tight opening half hour, Robbie McKenzie’s bouncing effort wide was the closest either side came but then the visitors lost the desperately unlucky Ethan Coleman with a large gash to the head. 

The home side offered very little – Josh Davidson headed over and Charlie Whittaker had a low shot saved by Glenn Morris – whilst just before the break a defender did well to block Elliott Nevitt’s effort from a smart free kick routine between Bradley Dack and Remeao Hutton. 

Patrick put the home side ahead from Davies’s flick three minutes past the hour and despite lengthy protests from the men in Black (Gills wore their away kit at Prenton Park), the officials gave the goal! Tranmere tried to see the game out but the visitors back line held firm before in the second minute of time added on, a corner fell to Amani Little who pinged the ball back into the box and after what seemed like an age, Gbode stuck out a foot past the statuesque Luke McGee in the home goal to divert the ball into the bottom corner sending the more than four hundred travelling fans wild! 

They were even wilder a couple of minutes later when Clark was dismissed, and he will now miss Tuesday’s real test at MEMS Priestfield against Chesterfield only one of two teams to have a one hundred percent record. Incidentally, the last time the Spireites arrived at Priestfield in a similar position with a perfect record at the start of a season, Keith Peacock’s Gillingham put TEN past them without reply! What Gareth Ainsworth wouldn’t give for a repeat on Tuesday… 

TRANMERE ROVERS – McGee, O’Connor, Smith, Brough, Norman, Smallwood, Kenneh, Patrick, Harris (Dennis), Whitaker (Bristow), Davison (Jennings) 

Subs – Murphy, Lowe, Solomon, Blacker  

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Gale, McKenzie, Smith, Clark, Little, Coleman (Jonny Williams), Hutton (Rowe), Dack (Khumbeni), Nevitt (Wyllie), Andrews (Gbode) 

Subs – Turner, Cirino 

Referee – Mr. Bourne 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC