Mark McCammon cannot believe that his shot went wide in Gillingham's goalless draw with Carlisle United at the Priestfield. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

by Luke Cawdell

A dominant second half performance from Gillingham failed to deliver the goals it deserved against Carlisle on Saturday.

Simeon Jackson had numerous attempts on target but couldn’t find a way past keeper Adam Collin and the hosts were forced to settle for a point.

It was the Gills’ fifth successive clean sheet at home and stretched their unbeaten run at Priestfield to seven games.

Gills boss Mark Stimson felt his side deserved the win and that they should also have been awarded a penalty in the first half.

“We were unfortunate not to get the three points,” he said. “We were the team who were looking to go forward and to get the goal. On a couple of occasions we came really close.

“The keeper pulled off one two half decent saves and we didn’t have that little bit of luck in front of goal that we’ve maybe had in other games.

“The best chance was in the first half when we thought it was a penalty. We didn’t get it and after watching it on the video it looked even more of a penalty.

“At the start of the second half Jacko had a decent chance and he skied it but overall, yes we got a point, but we would have liked three because I think we deserved that.”

The League 1 match opened at a good pace but clear-cut chances were hard to find for either team. The game only began to come to life after the interval.

Carlisle’s big striker Vincent Pericard headed an Ian Harte free-kick wide early on, while Gillingham took until the 21st minute to test Collin.

Collin saved well from Andy Barcham after the winger charged down the line, before cutting in and shooting from an angle. Barcham’s follow-up went wide.

The Gills were without on-loan striker Febian Brandy, missing with a thigh injury, and their chances in front of goal continued to be limited.

Gillingham had appeals for a penalty turned down just before the break. Curtis Weston took a tumble in the box while being tracked by defender Richard Keogh but referee Jarnail Singh ignored the shouts.

The half ended with niggly challenges from both sides but little in the way of scoring opportunities.

If the opening seconds of the second half the Gills came as close as they had in the whole of the first 45 minutes, when Weston smashed a shot inches past the post following Barcham’s run and cross.

Simeon Jackson had a deflected effort go narrowly wide moments later and Stuart Lewis also took aim, but only found the back of the Rainham End.

Jackson again went close as Gillingham showed a lot more urgency in the second half. His latest effort was saved by Collin.

The Gills were rarely troubled and Simon Royce had little problem saving a Pericard header just past the hour mark. It was Carlisle’s first effort on target.

Jackson was again in range with 15 minutes left, after Weston had opened up the door, but he smashed an angled shot wide.

Substitute Mark McCammon came close with a deflected shot that went wide but Carlisle nearly snatched the points with five minutes left. Only a great save from Royce stopped Ian Harte’s free-kick from nestling in the top corner.

Jackson was again denied by Collin as the minutes ticked close to the 90 and the keeper did well to tip Chris Palmer’s long-range effort over.

In injury time Weston went down in the box again but once more Singh declined to point to the spot. It was Gillingham’s last chance as they took a point.

Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Palmer, Gowling, Fry, Lewis, Maher (Oli 75mins), Bentley (McCammon 75mins), Barcham, Weston, Jackson. Subs not used: Yussuff, Julian, Nutter, Rooney, Payne.

Carlisle: Collin, Keogh, Horwood, Livesey (Murphy 61mins), Harte, Taiwo, Hurst, Clayton, Robson, Kavanagh (Dobie 68mins), Pericard. Subs not used: Anyinsah, Tinnion, Burns, Kane, Pidgeley.

Attendance: 6,214.