Gillingham fought back for a thrilling 2-2 draw against Cheltenham Town at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Friday night, with substitute George Lapslie coming off the bench to rescue a point for the home side.
Looking to achieve their third consecutive victory, Gillingham struck first through Jayden Clarke, who capitalized on a mistake from Cheltenham goalkeeper Joe Day. After Elliott Nevitt's low shot was poorly handled by Day, Clarke was quick to fire home from close range, putting the Gills up 1-0 just 24 minutes in.
But Cheltenham responded well, with Luke Young leveling the match shortly before halftime. His perfectly placed free-kick from 25 yards curled expertly past Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris, who was celebrating his 41st birthday, and struck the top corner to make it 1-1.
The momentum shifted again just after the hour mark when George Miller scored for Cheltenham, heading home Tom Bradbury's cross from the left. It was Miller's sixth goal of the season and put the visitors comfortably in the lead at 2-1.
Despite trailing, Gillingham didn't back down. They pressed forward and were rewarded eight minutes later when Lapslie emerged as the hero. He had entered the game just six minutes prior and made his impact known, finishing off a slick move initiated by Remeao Hutton, who played the ball down the sideline for Nevitt. The latter then cut it back to Lapslie, who swept the ball home to equalize.
The intense match didn’t end there. With the clock ticking down, Gillingham had another opportunity to snatch all three points when Bradley Dack's shot struck the crossbar deep in injury time. The Gills continued to push for the win but had to settle for the draw, which left manager Mark Bonner feeling both pleased and frustrated.
"I thought it was good and entertaining game. We had a real good go and had a lot of chances," Bonner remarked after the match. "There are parts we are really pleased with and parts disappointing. Overall, I think the lads are frustrated with what we conceded and the fact we haven't taken three points from the game because it's a bit of an opportunity missed for us."
Bonner, who was glad to continue their unbeaten run, acknowledged the growth of several players returning from injuries. He praised Lapslie's performance and the contributions from Nevitt, who assisted both goals, calling their efforts exceptional.
Looking forward to their next fixture against Colchester United on Boxing Day, Bonner anticipated another challenging game against opponents who’ve been performing well.
"It's going to be tough. I think Colchester should be doing much higher up the league table than they are based on how they have played this season," he said, underscoring the importance of making the most of their opportunities as they enter this busy period of the season.
For Gillingham, this match highlighted their resilience and attacking prowess, exemplified by Lapslie's timely equalizer. With the support of nearly 6,000 fans at the Priestfield, the team now looks to build on this momentum and secure victory as they approach the holiday fixtures.
Despite the disappointment of not claiming all three points, the draw marks another step forward for Gillingham as they seek to climb the ranks within League Two.
