Bradley Dack’s stunning free-kick ensured that Gillingham came away with a point in a 1-1 draw against Barnet in the early kick-off at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Barnet took the lead through Callum Stead after 18 minutes when he found the back of the net from close range. The visitors led until the final seconds of the first half when the hosts were awarded a free-kick after Robbie McKenzie was fouled.
The ball was positioned centrally, and it sat 25 yards from the goal. Dack did brilliantly to curl the ball up and over the wall, and it flew into the top left corner, leaving Cieran Slicker with no chance.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI that drew against Crawley Town. Jonny Williams, Aaron Rowe and Seb Palmer-Houlden came into the team, with Nelson Khumbeni and Josh Andrews being named among the substitutes.
Andy Smith missed out, while Armani Little served the first of his two-game suspension.
Bradley Dack had a good half-chance in the eighth minute. Remeao Hutton’s long throw into the penalty area was flicked on into the path of Dack, who threw himself at the ball to try and send it goalward. Unfortunately, he could not make clear contact, and it flashed across the box.
Callum Stead gave Barnet an 18th-minute lead. Idris Kanu did enough to hold off Max Clark before lobbing the ball into the middle of the box for Stead to guide his volley into the far corner of the net.
Lee Ndlovu volleyed over soon after. Nnamdi Ofoborh curled a cross from the right into the penalty area, finding the striker, who blazed his attempt over the crossbar.
Barnet came inches away from doubling their lead after 27 minutes. The ball was played into the box for Kanu to latch onto, and he was afforded the time and space to pick his spot before drilling the ball across the six-yard box. Adam Senior came sliding in at the back post, but could not reach it in time and it went behind for a goal-kick.
Cieran Slicker denied Dack after a Hutton long throw was allowed to bounce inside the penalty area. It dropped to the Gills captain on the day at the back post, who side-footed a first-time half-volley goalward. It had enough power but was too close to Slicker, who got two strong hands behind the attempt to keep it out. There were a couple of appeals for a handball, but the referee waved them away.
In the 38th minute, Dack was on hand to deny Barnet a second. Ryan Glover entered the Gills box and was positioned at a tight angle. However, he was not closed down, which allowed him to pick his spot, sending a low drive towards the far bottom corner. It beat Jake Turner, but Dack had come back onto the goal line to clear it away before the rebound went wide.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Dack brought Gillingham back on level terms. The hosts were awarded a free-kick after Robbie McKenzie had his shirt held onto by a Barnet player. The ball was positioned 25 yards from the goal in a central position. Dack stepped up to take the set piece, curling it up and over the wall, and it flew into the top left corner, leaving an outstretched Slicker with no chance.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Barnet
Palmer-Houlden did brilliantly to force Slicker into action during the opening stages of the second half. Dack switched the ball out to the forward on the left wing, who did well to keep it in play before carrying it into the penalty area. He opted to shoot from a tight angle, sending a powerful strike goalward. Slicker parried it behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Kane Smith let fly from 25 yards, with his powerful effort moving plenty. Fortunately, it flew over the crossbar after the initial worry of it looking like it could be on target.
On the hour, Gillingham made their first change, as Sam Vokes replaced Rowe.
A last-ditch header prevented former Gill Oli Hawkins from having a great opportunity. A cross from the right was sent deep into the penalty area, seeming destined to reach the head of the unmarked Hawkins at the back post. Fortunately, a Gillingham defender did just enough to flick it beyond the forward.
Gills made two more changes, with Travis Akomeah and Andrews replacing Garath McCleary and Palmer-Houlden respectively.
A final substitution was made in the 86th minute, as Khumbeni replaced Jonny Williams.
The final minutes saw both teams battle for possession in the middle of the pitch, with neither side creating a chance of note, as the game petered out into a draw.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Barnet
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Gale, McKenzie, Clark, Coleman, J. Williams (Khumbeni 86’), Rowe (Vokes 60’), Dack, McCleary (Akomeah 73’), Palmer-Houlden (Andrews 72’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, J. Smith, Cirino
Barnet: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Ndlovu (Hawkins 46’), Stead (Assombalonga 85’), Kanu, Glover (Kensdale 88’), Shelton, Smith (Browne 85’), Tavares, Ofoborh (Winterburn 84’)
Unused Substitutes: Evans, Hartigan
Referee: Ben Atkinson
Attendance: 5778 (406 away)
