Seb Palmer-Houlden’s first home goal was cancelled out by Shaun Rooney’s stoppage-time equaliser, as Gillingham and Fleetwood Town drew 1-1 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Palmer-Houlden opened the scoring in the 61st minute. Max Clark played a long ball over the top of the Fleetwood defence, which allowed the forward to use his pace to get in behind and latch onto it. A visiting defender caught up with the forward, but he did well to shake off his advances to get a shot away. It took a slight deflection on its way into the far bottom corner, as it beat Jay Lynch.
Rooney levelled the game in the opening seconds of added time when he met Mark Helm’s cross towards the back post unchallenged, heading the ball across the goal and into the far corner of the net.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI that beat Barrow, as Shad Ogie, Ethan Coleman and Euan Williams came into the team. Omar Beckles, Armani Little and Cameron Antwi all missed out.
Jonny Williams returned to the matchday squad to make the bench, while Josh Andrews and Travis Akomeah were also named among the substitutes.
Seb Palmer-Houlden had the first opportunity in the third minute. Robbie McKenzie, who was captain for the afternoon, lofted the ball into the penalty area in the direction of Palmer-Houlden. The forward outjumped his marker to glance a header goalward, but Lynch got across to make the save.
Gills started the game brightly, with Palmer-Houlden and Ronan Hale pressing from the front, causing the Fleetwood defenders to hurry on the ball. That led to a throw on half way, which allowed the hosts to push up the pitch. Hutton’s cross fell to Max Clark, who laid it back for Ogie to shoot from 20 yards. His powerful low drive was blocked before it ricocheted into Hutton’s path, who sent a shot wide of the far corner. However, he was in an offside position, so it wouldn’t have counted.
Euan Williams came close after 19 minutes. Hutton delivered a cross from the right, and Williams did well to get across his marker and beat him to the ball. The midfielder came sliding in to send it goalward, but Lynch saved before gathering at the second attempt.
Jake Turner did brilliantly to deny Esapa Osong from close range. The ball was switched over to Ethan Ennis on the right-hand side, and he curled a low ball into the penalty area. The hosts could not clear their lines as it dropped to Osong, who got a shot away from six yards out. Turner was quick off his line to close the angle and made himself big before blocking the attempt from point-blank range.
The visitors had another good chance to open the scoring when Mitch Clark got down the left side of the Gillingham penalty area before squaring the ball across the face of the goal. Fortunately, it missed the Fleetwood man sliding in attempting to make contact, as the Gills cleared their lines.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Fleetwood Town
In the 58th minute, Elliot Bonds had a good opportunity. Mark Helm did well to hold onto the ball, getting beyond multiple Gillingham players before feigning to shoot, taking a couple of defenders out of the game. He then threaded a pass into the box for Bonds, who shot on the turn, but he slipped as he made contact, and the ball floated over the crossbar.
In the 61st minute, Palmer-Houlden gave Gillingham the lead. Euan Williams laid the ball off to Clark, who sent a long diagonal ball over the top of the Fleetwood defence, which allowed Palmer-Houlden to use his pace to get in behind. He got on the end of the pass, but a visiting defender caught up to apply pressure. However, the 22-year-old did well to remain composed and got a shot away, sending it into the far bottom corner, as it beat Lynch via a deflection.
The hosts made their first change after the goal, as Aaron Rowe replaced Hutton.
A second substitution was made five minutes later when Jonny Williams replaced Euan Williams.
Will Davies came inches away from levelling the game for Fleetwood. Owen Devonport got on the end of a ball down the left before sending a low ball towards the near post. It met the oncoming Davies, who slid the ball goalward from close range. It hit the foot of the post before bouncing into the middle of the six-yard box, and fortunately, a visiting player was not in the vicinity, as the hosts dealt with the danger.
In the 84th minute, Gillingham made their final substitutions, as three players entered the game, with Akomeah, Lenni Cirino and Andrews coming on for Hale, McKenzie and Palmer-Houlden respectively.
Turner did brilliantly to push Helm’s free-kick over the crossbar. The visitors had the ball in a central position from 20 yards out, and Helm did well to get the ball over the wall as it was directed towards the top right corner. However, the Gills keeper got across and got a solid hand onto the ball to push it over the crossbar.
Moments later, Helm tried his luck again from distance, as his curling effort smacked the face of the bar before going away from danger.
The hosts had a huge penalty appeal in the final moments of regulation. Akomeah carried the ball towards the Fleetwood box before playing it to Jonny Williams on his right. He took the ball inside the penalty area before taking it beyond a defender. However, as he looked to get past the player, Williams was seemingly tripped, upending his momentum, but the referee waved away any appeals, as the play continued.
In the opening seconds of added time, Shaun Rooney equalised for Fleetwood. Helm curled a cross in from the left towards the back post, and Rooney met it unchallenged to send a header into the far corner of the goal.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Fleetwood Town
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton (Rowe 62’), Gale, A. Smith, Ogie, Clark, Coleman, McKenzie (Cirino 84’), E. Williams (J. Williams 68’), Hale (Akomeah 84’), Palmer-Houlden (Andrews 84’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Vokes
Fleetwood Town: Lynch, Ennis, Rooney, Haughey, Potter, Clark, Bonds (W. Davies 68’), Neal, Helm, Evans (Devonport 76’), Osong (McLean 68’)
Unused Substitutes: Hewitson, Powell, Morrison, Hughes
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Attendance: 5297 (69)
