Cody McDonald celebrates the winner at Cheltenham on Sunday. Picture: Barry Goodwin

By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham striker Cody McDonald netted two late goals to complete a sensational comeback against Cheltenham.

The Gills’ long unbeaten run in League 2, stretching back 12 games before this weekend, was about to be ended by Cheltenham despite a much-improved second half showing at Whaddon Road.

A fourth minute goal from Steve Elliott looked to have been enough for Cheltenham to take maximum points from the encounter as they capitalised on a low-key Gillingham effort in the opening stages.

It took the Gills almost half an hour to even have an effort at goal but from that point forward the tide began to turn.

The Gills finished the first half in better shape, despite almost going 2-0 down, when striker Jeff Goulding smacked an effort against the post after Alan Julian miscued a clearance.

The pressure mounted on the hosts and eventually they crumbled in dramatic circumstances, as McDonald struck twice in the final five minutes, to take his personal goal tally to 22.

It was a fantastic fight-back that in the first 45 minutes never really looked on the cards.

Gillingham conceded a soft corner in the opening minutes. Joe Martin, preferred on Sunday in place of John Nutter, cleared the ball only as far as Danny Andrew and his cross back in was netted from close range by Elliott.

The Gills were in need of maximum points after results from the rest of the games in League 2 in the previous two days had seen them drop down to eighth in the table.

Early indications that they could bounce straight back from where they came were not looking good.

The best chance Gillingham could muster in the opening half fell to McDonald but his effort was blocked. Any other chances drifted wide of Scott Brown’s goal.

Goulding should really have made it 2-0, instead of finding the post late in the half, much to the relief of the 559 travelling fans behind Julian’s goal.

The Gills had started Saturday’s game with Andy Barcham playing as a third striker and with Curtis Weston spear-heading the midfield. That all changed around the hour mark with boss Andy Hessenthaler introducing Dennis Oli and switching back to a more traditional 442 system.

The Gills began to grow in confidence and Brown had to make a great point-blank block to deny Weston, before making another good save from substitute Luke Rooney.

Cheltenham remained a threat on the break but it was Hessenthaler’s men who were looking more dominant as the game went on.

A deserved equaliser materialised with 85 minutes gone. McDonald headed Barry Fuller’s cross against the post but was alert enough to net the rebound.

Gillingham fans were ecstatic but delirium followed five minutes later when McDonald’s strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa crossed and the on-loan Norwich man rose once more to net the winner.

Celebrations were nearly muted in injury-time when Cheltenham’s Marlon Pack tried his luck from 40 yards but the powerful effort cannoned to safety off the post.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Martin, Lawrence, Richards, Maher (Spiller 64mins), J Payne (Oli 53mins), Weston, Barcham (Rooney 77mins), Akinfenwa, McDonald. Subs not used: Nutter, Gowling, S Payne, Cronin.

Cheltenham: Brown, Lowe (Bird 22mins), Andrew, Riley, Low, Lewis (Smikle 64mins), Artus (Green 92mins), Elliott, Pack, Goulding, Thomas. Subs: Lloyd-Weston, Eastham, Gallinagh, Pook.

Attendance: 3,157 (559 Gills)

Do you think the Gills can now go on and claim an automatic promotion place in League 2? Comment below.