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Jack Tucker enjoyed a great day in a Gillingham shirt but was just disappointed he couldn’t share the elation with the fans on Saturday.
His first ever Football League goal came infront of an empty Priestfield Stadium.
Tucker’s seventh minute strike was hit sweetly on the volley to give the Gills the lead and he then worked hard to ensure his team were winners. By full-time the Gills had scored twice more to claim three points, winning 3-1.
The Whitstable lad had enjoyed the goal but also the battle, locking horns with experienced striker James Norwood, a player who loves a bit of a scrap himself.
“It was a very satisfying win,” said Tucker. “We knew how good Ipswich are, we could see that from the run of games they have just had, beating Hull, Doncaster and Accrington (in their previous three games). We know they are all tough, so we were ready.
“It was a great feeling to score, I have been waiting for a long time for that first league goal. I got the one against Spurs (in the EFL Trophy) but it is definitely more special to get a league goal. It popped to me, I didn’t have time to think about it, I just wanted to hit the target low and hard and watched the ball do the rest, that was very pleasing.
“You dream about scoring infront of your home fans so it was disappointing on that part (Priestfield remains empty because of Covid). I have been here since the age of seven and it is something that has gone through my head a lot and to have finally got that done and got the first one under my belt is a great feeling.
“You imagine scoring infront of the Rainham End and all the fans getting behind you, that would have been great, but a goal is a goal, it is good to get it under my belt and the fact it helped us get the three points made it much more important.”
Luke Chambers did level for Ipswich after the break but two goals from Vadaine Oliver won it for Gillingham.
Norwood tried everything to score, but Tucker won that battle. He said: “We knew he wouldn’t give us a minute’s peace. Me and Robbie (Cundy, fellow central defender) knew we would be in a battle, we stood up to it, we enjoyed defending but it wasn’t just us two, the whole team from back to front defended excellently to a man.”
Tucker finished the game with a bandage around his head after taking a cut just above the eye.
But he said: “Those are the games you live for as a centre half, a good battle. I am a defender and I want to defend. It is good to do what I did at the other end, scoring a goal, but as long as we can keep it out of the net and we are winning then I am happy.
“You expect a few cuts and bruises over the years when you play at centre half in League 1, it is going to happen. It is not too bad, just a little cut from his boot. It might turn into a black eye but it will be fine.”
