Gillingham (0) 1 McDonald 88
Morecambe (1) 1 Jeavons (pen) 21
Att. 5,545
Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/9,528
Match Report
People around me jumped to their feet with their indignation at the referee’s decision, I was also convinced that an injustice had been dealt on Matt Lawrence, accused of handball and thus conceding the penalty that gave Morecambe a surprise lead. But, after midnight on Saturday evening, television pictures proved that it was indeed the hand of the Gillingham central defender that had handled the ball and not, as most believed, that Phil Jeavons. Manager Andy Hessenthaler had said as much on Radio Kent, but we were a lot closer and facing in the right direction than Hess and we still got it wrong. Perhaps referees are better than we give them credit for?! (And there again, perhaps not.)From that 21st minute set back following Jeavons’ conversion of the spot kick, Gillingham huffed and puffed their way through a game that was totally one-sided in terms of possession, but a combination of outstanding goalkeeping, not for the first time, from Barry Roche, sterling defending and not enough clear shooting opportunities looked to have consigned the home side to a costly defeat. But with just two minutes remaining on the clock, John Nutter launched one more hopeful cross into the box, this time far enough away from Roche not to allow him a free catch of the ball, and Cody McDonald rose at the far post to steer a header into the opposite corner to preserve a valuable point.
Roche had been Gillingham’s nemesis in the return fixture back in August when a late, but not quite so late, Danny Spiller equaliser rescued a point from the Globe Arena. Today, he made superb saves from Kevin Maher, Adebayo Akinfenwa and McDonald before half-time. Despite the attack against defence nature of the game, the visitors could and should have entered the break with a two goal lead when Danny Carlton had a volley saved by Alan Julian.
The second half was even more one-sided than the first but Morecambe were defending for their lives. This was a wonderful example of English football, Morecambe have very little left to play for this season, but their resilience and their honesty to the game were a credit. Mind you, they did achieve this with an element of bare-faced time wasting that eventually earned a booking for their hero of the hour, keeper Roche.
Second half efforts from McDonald brought the best from the keeper, but a side-footed effort from Spiller was easily handled when the midfielder should really have but his laces through the ball. It appeared a frustrating finish was to be the result until McDonald rose to head home his 25th goal of the season.
With five minutes of added time, the home side went hell for leather to grab all three points and one almighty scramble ensued in which pin ball was played between attack and defence; defence won and Gillingham had to be content with their rescued point.
It was disappointing that several of the games involving the promotion chasers also ended in draws and a missed opportunity had resulted, flip side being that very little ground has been lost. I had thought that to attain automatic promotion, five wins from the last five games was going to be necessary and now with four left and five points adrift of third place, I’m convinced that the play-offs are now the sole objective.
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