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Grimsby Town 1 Gillingham 1: League 2 match report from Blundell Park

Gillingham were denied a first win under John Coleman after conceding a last-minute goal at Grimsby Town.

A sliced clearance from Grimsby defender Doug Tharme handed the Gills the lead in the opening half. Gillingham were twice denied by the woodwork after the break, during an impressive second 45 minutes, but Danny Rose struck in the 97th minute to equalise.

Gillingham manager John Coleman Picture: Barry Goodwin
Gillingham manager John Coleman Picture: Barry Goodwin

Reaction: Coleman takes the blame

Tuesday’s League 2 fixture was a meeting of two out-of-form teams - the side from Kent backed by just over 100 hardy fans, many of whom enjoyed a free pre-match drink courtesy of Gills’ co-owner Shannon Galinson.

Gillingham were looking to end a six-game winless run and a first under John Coleman while Grimsby were without a win in four.

Grimsby had won 1-0 at Priestfield back in October, when the Gills were sitting top of the division. It was a result that started a five-game losing streak and a slide down the table.

The Gills started the game at Blundell Park 17th in the table.

Gillingham boss Coleman made three changes to the starting line-up from the weekend draw at Tranmere and made a switch of formation, with Jack Nolan and Asher Agbinone flanking Joe Gbode upfront in a 4-3-3 set-up.

Nolan looked bright in the new role, having previously been deployed as a left wing-back. It was his cross that led to Tharme spectacularly slicing the ball into his own net with 35 minutes gone.

Sam Gale had been a surprise starter in defence for the Gills and didn’t look out of place, picked for the first time by the new boss, while Agbinone returned from a back injury and Gbode won a recall after a watching brief on the Saturday, picked to lead the line.

Bradley Dack had been dropped to the bench, which wasn’t a shock, after he did the whole game at the weekend and still isn’t 100% fit.

Strikers Elliott Nevitt and Jimmy-Jay Morgan were both missing, as was Ethan Coleman, all three presumed injured. Jacob Wakeling and Aaron Rowe were still unable to make it into the matchday squad.

This was a game that had mistakes written all over it, played in the rain with the pitch badly cut up from the off. Both teams got away with mistakes at the back.

Agbinone was unable to capitalise on a chance he was presented when he picked up a poor pass across the back from a Grimsby defender, lashing the shot wide from an angle.

Kieran Green had wasted a good early chance for Grimsby and headed another opportunity wide. Charles Vernam tried his luck with a free-kick but the shot was deflected out of play.

Gillingham went into the break a goal up and with every chance of taking the points against a Grimsby team clearly low on confidence.

The Gills came close to getting a second goal just a minute after the restart, and it was almost a second own goal, when a Grimsby defender headed Shad Ogie’s deep cross onto the crossbar.

Gillingham were showing plenty of fight, to the home side’s annoyance, and were on top for much of the second half without managing to test home keeper Jordan Wright themselves.

With 67 minutes gone the Gills were denied by the woodwork again. A great run forward from Ogie ended with the ball at Agbinone’s feet and his cross was met by substitute Tim Dieng but he couldn’t find the net at the far post.

Wright did have a shot to deal with when Gbode hit a weak effort goalwards and when the keeper made a mess of it he was saved by a defender close by who managed to clear.

Dieng powered a header wide for the Gills with 15 minutes left as Grimsby fans were getting more frustrated. The home side had offered nothing of note upfront since the turnaround.

The game was briefly delayed in the 77th minute following a medical incident in the home crowd but play quickly resumed as a supporter continued to receive treatment.

The game was paused again with five minutes left as the Grimsby fan was taken away on a stretcher, leading to a minimum of seven minutes added on.

Glenn Morris made a super save on 94 minutes to deny Jason Svanthorsson but was then beaten at his near post by Rose, who got in front of Oli Hawkins to guide home Green’s low cross and level the match in the 97th minute.

League 2 table

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Ogie, Ehmer, Gale (J Williams 95mins), McKenzie, Little, Khumbeni (Dieng 58mins), Nolan (Hawkins 80mins), Agbinone (Dack 80mins), Gbode. Subs not used: Turner, Clark, Clarke.

Grimsby: Wright, Khouri, Tharme, Rodgers, Cass, McEachran (Carson 95mins), Green, Thompson (Obikwu 79mins), Svanthorsson, Vernam (Luker 65mins), Rose. Subs not used: Auton, Ainley, McJannet, Warren.

Referee: Simon Mather

Attendance: 4,239 (137 away)

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