Gillingham 1 Chesterfield 2

Match 72/15/1277 - Saturday, 27th February 2016 - League One

Gillingham (0) 1 Osadebe 80
Chesterfield (2) 2 Ebanks-Blake 36, Novak 45+2
Attendance: 6,012

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 56/5,416

Match Report

When Dominic Samuel was sent clear after 45 seconds only to loft his shot high and wide the die was set and when Rory Donnelly placed an unchallenged header over the bar after 85 minutes it was cast. Missed chances inevitably cost points and despite a spirited second half performance, Gillingham's lack of a cutting edge cost them dear.

I related, right at the beginning of the season, in my banner heading that it is not disappointment that hurts, it is the hope. I'm not one for unbridled optimism, but coming into a five-game run against teams all positioned in the lower half of the table, my thoughts were that a good haul of points (15 was always going to be over-cooked) would virtually cement Gillingham's place in the play-offs and, perhaps, touching distance of the automatics. The loss at Oldham followed by this defeat leaves that optimism feeling very misguided.

Many posts ago, when Gillingham were maintaining their position in the top three, I felt that when injuries and suspensions started to bite, the squad might be lacking in depth. Unfortunately, that is now beginning to happen. Added to the long-term injury to John Egan and the loss of Doug Loft, the sight of Bradley Dack limping away after half-an-hour of this contest struck fear in every Gillingham heart. Dack has been the heartbeat of this team and having fought off suitors in the January window, it is sods law that he will be lost to injury for a length of time.

Following Samuel's early miss, chances also fell for Rory Donnelly, who brought a save from Tommy Lee and Max Ehmer, whose shot was turned onto a post.

As Chesterfield slowly found a foothold in the game, Ehmer and Ryan Jackson found their way into the referee's book for fouls before they surprisingly took the lead after 36 minutes. Gboly Ariyibi, who had been posing problems for Adam Chicksen, crossed from the right to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who bundled the ball over the line.

When it was hoped that the home side would get into the dressing room with just a goal deficit, Lee Novak produced a well placed shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

The second half was one of frustration as Gillingham sought to repair the damage but foundered on a strong defensive display that would have been admirable if it wasn't for the shameless time-wasting that Chesterfield had perpectuated from the first whistle. In fairness, if I had been one those 199 Spireites sitting, open to the elements, I would have been applauding every second that passed.

Bradley Garmston was introduced for the second half replacing Chicksen and Justin Edinburgh changed his formation with the full backs pushing much further forward, Jackson having an early second half header saved.

George Williams, Gillingham's loanee from Fulham, who had a awkward 15 minutes in the first half after coming on as substitute for Dack, had an eye-catching second half which earned him the man of the match award.

Samuel and Luke Norris (on for Samuel) brought comfortable saves from Lee as Gillingham dominated possession but it took until 10 minutes from time to reduce the deficit. A left sided cross from Norris was headed in at close range by Emmanuel Osadebe to set up a grandstand finish.

That should have brought a point with five minutes remaining when Donnelly headed over from a inch perfect cross from Jackson.

Josh Wright: "Proud and privileged to have captained Gillingham today, devastated with the result"