Adebayo Akinfenwa tries an over-head kick on Saturday Pic: Barry Goodwin

We asked our panel of Gillingham fans for their reaction to Saturday’s 1-1 draw. The verdict seems to be one of disappointment but there remains plenty of positive vibes that things will get better.

SAM LIVINGSTON (Pangbourne)

In the first half we looked a bit shaky and very nervous but we looked dangerous on the counter-attack, especially through Barcham and Weston and were unlucky not to be leading! After Cheltenham scored their goal, which I thought should have been defended better, we looked brilliant. The likes of Spiller and Payne were wonderful and looked very committed which will be useful on away days and Ade looked very dangerous - I am very excited about him. I was a bit disappointed with the result but we showed great potential and when we get a few more players I believe Hessy’s army can make a charge for promotion!

MALCOLM SMITH (Grimsby)

The match didn’t live up to expectations and gave us a glimpse of what is to come at Priestfield this season, with teams getting men behind the ball and happy to escape with a point.
Cheltenham’s goal and the introduction of Bayo finally brought the game to life for the Gills. Bayo is going to be a huge asset if we can get the right man alongside him. A draw was a fair result. The game was there to be won but without shots on target we were never going to win a game. A solid start with plenty to suggest that this could be a good season.

JAMES HAWKINS (Rochester)

When we got into that final third we lacked that final shot. We held onto the ball too long and allowed the Cheltenham defenders to get back and defend. Bayo and Rooney changed the game in the second half. The Gills sprang into life after they came on and no Cheltenham defender could get near big Bayo! I thought he was excellent. All in all decent performance from the Gills. It would have been nice to see Gills get the win but it’s early days.

PAUL BLAKELEY (Maidstone)

The players looked a bit rusty, nervous perhaps, but we were definitely improving as the match went along. I’m not too upset with the point. We played pretty well overall, with some really pleasing passing. If a little too risky at some points! For me the standout players were Jack Payne, Spiller, Barcham and Akinfenwa. Payne is improving every game, his tackling is definitely getting better, not to mention his eye for a pass and Spiller was playing like a captain in all but name. When Akinfenwa’s fit we should look a pretty dangerous proposition up front. His overhead kick was a thing of beauty!

LIAM BATCH (Ashford)

I feel we must take the positives from a difficult opening encounter. Much praise must go to Hessenthaler for bringing on Akinfenwa early on in the second half. I felt he was exceptional on the ball and deserved his goal. It wasn’t the start we wanted, but there was bound to be errors having not played competitively in so long. The reaction the players showed having gone a goal down was promising and they were unlucky not to get a winner.

ALEX SARSON (Wellingborough)

Expectations were high and this game didn’t fulfill them but there is definite hope. Where Stefan Payne looked inexperienced and lost, Akinfenwa looked the solution. He has to start from now on. Spills looked his box-to-box self and I’m very happy to have him back. Cody McDonald could be important and link well with Aki. Hessenthalers Barmy Army! Although it wasn’t the day we hoped, I still believe we will challenge for promotion.

BEN CURTIS (Brompton)

A promising start to the season after a dispiriting end to the last. We didn’t really get going until Cheltenham scored, but when we did we caused plenty of problems and created enough chances to win. One up front didn’t really work, but when we reverted to 4-4-2 we looked threatening and the likelier of the two to take the points. No defender could get near Adebayo Akinfenwa and out of all of the decent performances - Spiller, Gowling, Barcham - his was the best example of why we’ll be a tough team to play this season.

ROSS GREEN (Sheerness)

The first half provided a few good chances for the Gills, who seemed to get the ball into the final third of the pitch on a regular basis, but the Robins defense has strengthened since the close of last season. When the defence was beaten, Gillingham players seemed reluctant to shoot and tried taking the ball around the keeper or the last defender, often ending in a disappointing groan from the fans. The final whistle ended a disappointing afternoon for Gillingham fans, but there was also many encouraging signs about the season ahead.

JAMES STAPLES (Greenwich)

There’s a temptation to look at this game as two points dropped, based on the notion that a team looking to achieve automatic promotion should be winning home games against clubs of Cheltenham’s structure. However, I came away from the ground in a positive frame of mind and believe I witnessed a performance that shows real promise for the season ahead. Akinfenwa showed class and cunning after his introduction. The prospect of the big target man playing up front with a player of Cody McDonald’s obvious potential is particularly exciting.

MELISSA GUTHRIE (Rochester)

Saturday was new start. I was ready to see players giving everything and I wasn’t disappointed. I could sit here and pick apart each player’s performance, but I’m not going to do that on the first day. Yes there were nerves, yes there were players who had a good game and others who didn’t, but I didn’t once want to scream at a player for not trying. As a fan I couldn’t have asked for more.

PETE BRUDENELL (Brixton)

Although it was the first game of the season, Cheltenham at home is a game that you’d expect to be getting three points from, so to only get one is disappointing. Despite that, there were some positives. I thought Josh Gowling looked strong, and I’m confident that he will have a good season, whilst Jack Payne showed some good touches. Equally, I thought Bayo looked good when he came on - it’s been a long time since we’ve had someone that holds the ball up as well as that, and it was nice to see Spills out there again. My biggest concern from Saturday was that despite being the better side, we didn’t create many chances. Not the best start, but certainly not the worst.

And not forgetting...

CHELTENHAM FAN

Steve Smith

I predicted 1-1 and got it spot on and after picking up £80 from the bookies it turned out to be not a bad day, and we even managed to miss the rain. On reflection I think had Gillingham not got that equaliser it would have been a bit of a robbery.

I was pleased with the result and as I said in my preview we did lack a bit up-front although we were really strong in defence, apart from Andrew who got a roasting at left-back. He was shocking and it was just lucky Riley was there, who was superb. Arter on the left of midfield then had to spend too much time defending. Fortunately Stefan Payne wasn’t able to take advantage.

Although that was just the first game I can’t see us being relegation candidates, no way.

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