Conor McManus scored on his first EFL start as Gillingham were held to a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The young left wing-back opened the scoring when he got on the end of Nick Freeman’s smart left-footed curling cross, heading beyond Zach Jeacock in the Northampton goal.
The visitors levelled the score after 36 minutes. Logan Briggs saw his initial attempt from inside the box blocked, but was quickest to latch onto the second ball before lofting a curling effort into the top left corner of the net.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI that drew at Fleetwood Town last Saturday. Ollie Wright started in goal, making his Gillingham debut, while Conor McManus, who came off the bench at Fleetwood, made his first EFL league start.
Harry Waldock came into the side in the place of Zane Albarus. Ashley Maynard-Brewer returned to Sheffield Wednesday after his emergency loan ended. Lamin Sillah was named in the matchday squad after signing on loan from Nottingham Forest, and Garath McCleary returned to the team after missing the previous fixture.
McManus headed Gillingham in front after seven minutes. Nick Freeman cut inside onto his left foot before curling a dangerous cross into the penalty area. His cross found an unmarked McManus, who had done well to peel away from a defender. He got onto the end of the delivery unchallenged and thumped his header across the goal and into the bottom right corner.
In the 24th minute, Freeman tried to catch out Zach Jeacock. He had the ball on the right-hand side and cut inside onto his left foot as he made his way into the penalty area. He appeared ready to deliver a cross, but instead sent a low drive towards the near post. However, it went wide, leaving the visiting goalkeeper untroubled.
Ronan Hale came close from a free-kick soon after. James Brophy was fouled in a central position 20 yards from the goal in an ideal position for him and Hale, who were both stood over it. The Northern Ireland international took the set piece, doing well to get it up and over the wall. Unfortunately, it would not dip into the top corner, and it landed on the roof of the net.
Wright was called into action on the half-hour when Jon Guthrie got on the end of a free-kick delivered in from the right. The defender sent his sliding effort goalward, but Wright did well to react and save. However, the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside.
In the 36th minute, Logan Briggs brought the visitors back on level terms. Northampton did well to work their way into a shooting position, as Briggs saw his initial shot blocked by Omar Beckles. However, the second ball came right back to him, and he curled his attempt into the top left corner of the net, leaving Wright with no chance.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Northampton Town
Hale had a good opportunity five minutes into the second period. Waldock’s pressure forced a misplaced pass, which fell to Will Goodwin. He did well to hold it up before spotting the run of Hale in behind. The Northern Ireland international latched onto it and made his way to the penalty area. He got to the edge before cutting inside and curling goalward. However, his low drive was too central, and Jeacock got down to gather.
In the 55th minute, the hosts made their first change, with Cameron Antwi replacing Robbie McKenzie, who was on a yellow card.
Brophy nearly scored a fantastic solo goal moments later. He carried the ball down the right and made his way to the box, gliding beyond a Northampton defender in the process. He cut back onto his left foot before firing goalward, with his powerful attempt pushed over the bar by Jeacock.
From the resulting corner, Hale’s testing delivery nearly caught the visiting goalkeeper out, as he had to backpedal to push the ball away from the danger.
In the 81st minute, the Gills made a triple substitution as they went in search of a winning goal. Sheldon Kendall, Sillah and McCleary entered the game, replacing McManus, Hale and Goodwin.
Kendall had a sight at goal when he did well to win possession before driving into the penalty area. The Millwall loanee tried firing a shot towards the top corner at the near post, but it flashed over the crossbar.
Harry Webster replaced Brophy in the closing seconds, with the game ending all square at ME7.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-1 Northampton Town
Gillingham: Wright, Smith, Beckles, Dobbs, Freeman, McKenzie (Antwi 55’), Waldock, McManus (Kendall 82’), Brophy (Webster 90+5’), Hale (Sillah 81’), Goodwin (McCleary 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Booth
Northampton Town: Jeacock, Maxwell, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Guthrie, Moore, Evans, Warhurst (Opoku 58’), Fornah, Wormleighton (Hoskins 27’), Briggs, Donacien (Dyche 70’)
Unused Substitutes: Fitzsimons, Swyer, McCarthy, Saunders
Referee: Elliott Swallow
Attendance: 5701 (537)
