Max Clark’s header cancelled out Louis Appere’s first-half goal as Gillingham drew 1-1 with Cambridge United on Boxing Day.
Appere headed Cambridge in front when a long diagonal into the Gills penalty area was headed down into the six-yard box by James Gibbons. Appere ran onto the ball unchallenged, sending his header into the bottom corner from close range.
The hosts had an opportunity to equalise when Armani Little was bundled down inside the penalty area after a smart free-kick routine. Robbie McKenzie took the spot kick, which was well saved by Jake Eastwood, who got down to his right to push it around the post.
From the resulting corner, Clark equalised. Dack curled a corner towards the back post, which Eastwood came for and missed before it dropped to Clark, who outjumped his marker to head just over the line.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the team that started the defeat at Fleetwood Town, as Josh Andrews returned to the starting XI after missing time due to injury. Max Clark and Ethan Coleman came back into the line-up, with Bradley Dack and Seb Palmer-Houlden dropping to the bench.
Travis Akomeah missed out, while Conor Masterson and Sam Vokes were named among the substitutes.
Gills had the ball in the back of the net early through Sam Gale, but it was ruled out due to an offside. A long throw was headed onto Andy Smith, who flicked it goalward, and his attempt was saved by Jake Eastwood. Gale was quickest to react, firing the rebound into the bottom corner, but Andy Smith was in an offside position.
Clark’s corner caused Eastwood problems in the eighth minute. The left-back curled the ball close to the visiting goalkeeper, with it looking as if it could beat Eastwood. However, he did brilliantly to adjust in time, making a diving save at full-stretch to claw it off the line before Cambridge cleared their lines.
Moments later, Louis Appere headed Cambridge in front. The ball was sent deep towards the back post in the direction of James Gibbons, who headed it back down into the six-yard box. Appere ran onto it unchallenged, heading beyond Jake Turner.
Armani Little flashed a shot wide of the post in the 28th minute. Andrews headed a long ball on for Aaron Rowe to chase, and having carried it towards the penalty area, he played it into Andrews’ feet. The forward set it back for Little to strike, with his powerful attempt going justwide of the goal.
In the 35th minute, Gillingham were awarded an indirect free-kick after Eastwood handled a back pass. Little laid it off to Clark, who curled goalward, but it was blocked before the visitors headed it out to the edge of the penalty area. The Gills captain hooked the ball back into the box, allowing Andrews to peel away from a defender to get onto the high and looping ball. Unfortunately, his header goalward lacked the power to test Eastwood, who gathered.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Cambridge United
The visitors had an early penalty appeal when Appere received contact inside the penalty area, having stayed onside. However, the referee waved those appeals away.
Nevitt nearly capitalised on indecisive defending when a Cambridge defender was facing his own goal, attempting to shield the ball. The Gills forward nipped in to prod it away, but the touch was too heavy, and it went wide of the goal.
Gills had a half-chance when Clark’s corner towards the front post was attacked by Nevitt and McKenzie. However, it bounced wide of the goal, with Eastwood having it covered.
James Brophy could have doubled Cambridge’s lead after cutting out a pass towards Clark. He drove towards the edge of the penalty area before shifting it onto his left foot, and in turn, taking two players out of the game before he curled towards the far corner. Fortunately, it took a slight deflection and it went wide of the post.
In the 65th minute, Gillingham made their first two substitutions, with Dack and Palmer-Houlden replacing Coleman and Nevitt respectively.
Gills won a penalty in the 71st minute. A smart free-kick routine saw the ball passed to Dack on the edge of the penalty area, who laid it off for Little, who made his way into the box. The Gillingham captain was bundled over as he was heading towards the six-yard box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Eastwood then denied McKenzie with a fantastic save. The ball was drilled towards the bottom left corner, with the Cambridge goalkeeper getting down to it and getting two solid hands behind it to palm it around the post.
From the resulting corner, Clark brought Gillingham back onto level terms. Dack curled the corner deep towards the back post, with the left-back outjumping his marker to head it just over the line despite the best efforts of the visiting defenders.
Dack nearly turned the game on its head when the ball fell to him just inside the penalty area. His attempt was drilled towards the near right-hand post, but Eastwood did well to get across and make the save before gathering at the second attempt.
Rowe tried his luck with an optimistic effort that was aimed towards the bottom corner at the near post, but it went just wide of the goal.
Eastwood did well to hold onto Dack’s strong low drive with five minutes remaining. The Gills won a free-kick around 30 yards from goal, which Little laid off for Dack, who struck it first time. However, the Cambridge goalkeeper got across to make the save.
Gills continued to press for a late winner, but could not test Eastwood in the Cambridge goal, and the game ended all square.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Cambridge United
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, A. Smith, Gale, Clark, Coleman (Dack 65’), Little, McKenzie, Rowe, Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden 65’), Andrews
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Masterson, J. Williams, J. Smith, Vokes
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett (Purrington 67’), Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Mayor, Brophy (McLoughlin 67’), Hoddle, Mpanzu, Kaikai (Kachunga 79’), Appere (Lavery 80’)
Unused Substitutes: Hughes, Knight, Rossi
Referee- Neil Hair
Attendance- 7344 (636 away)