Gillingham 2 Blackpool 2

GILLINGHAM had to make do with a point against Blackpool despite a gallant effort on home soil.

The turning point came five minutes after the break, when the Gills had the chance to make it 3-1 from the spot, only for Michael Flynn’s effort to be saved by keeper Paul Rachubka.

The visitors levelled on 64 minutes with a cracking free-kick from David Fox but from that point they were pegged back by Gillingham.

Try as they might the Gills couldn’t find a way through and a late penalty appeal was turned down by referee Darren Deadman, after Danny Spiller was fouled in the box, to leave manager Ronnie Jepson fuming at the officials.

The Gills had led going into the break deservedly 2-1 up, thanks to goals from Dean McDonald and Andrew Crofts.

McDonald’s opener came after just nine minutes when he nodded home Gary Mulligan’s cross to finish off a great flowing move.

But is was some sloppy defending that saw Blackpool equalise just three minutes later when Andy Morrell’s header came off the bar, keeper Romain Larrieu and defender Brent Sancho were slow to react and Ben Burgess gratefully tucked the ball away.

Gillingham went into the break ahead though as Crofts had plenty of space to head home Nicky Southall’s corner kick on 34 minutes.

Flynn’s saved penalty proved costly and it took a bit of magic from Fox to level the scores and deny Gillingham a deserved victory.

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Gillingham: Larrieu, Southall, Sancho, Johnson, Jackman, Bentley, Crofts, Flynn, Spiller, Mulligan, McDonald.
Subs Not Used: Cox, Howell, Pugh, Collin, Ndumbu-Nsungu.
Attendance: 5.949.