Glenn Morris made two magnificent saves deep into stoppage time to ensure that Gillingham kept hold of their clean sheet and came away from Salford City with a 0-0 draw at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday.
Gareth Ainsworth named an unchanged starting XI following the 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley on Easter Monday. Robbie McKenzie returned to the matchday squad, while Louie Dayal missed out.
Ros Longelo came close to opening the scoring in the 11th minute. He had the ball just inside the penalty area and carried it inside on his left foot, looking for the space to get a shot away. He then curled his attempt towards the far top corner, which looked as if it could nestle in the back of the net. Fortunately, it smacked off the crossbar before the visitors cleared their lines.
In the 24th minute, Dan Udoh had the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out due to an offside. A great pass was played into Luke Garbutt, who took the ball into the penalty area before sending a low ball across the face of the goal for Udoh to slot home. However, the linesman’s flag was raised.
Andy Smith did excellently to deny Ryan Graydon. The Salford forward managed to get through on goal and seemed destined to get a shot away. However, he took one touch too many, allowing the recovering Smith to come across with a perfectly timed sliding challenge to block Graydon’s attempted effort before Gillingham cleared their lines.
Ade Oluwo headed over on the stroke of half-time. Longelo did well to get some space on the right wing before curling towards the back post. He found Oluwo, who was unchallenged, but he could not keep the attempt down, as it looped over the crossbar.
HALF-TIME: Salford City 0-0 Gillingham
Glenn Morris did brilliantly to keep out Luke Garbutt’s free-kick. The ball was positioned to the right of the centre, and the Salford left-back got the ball up and over the wall. It was directed towards the top right corner, but Morris did well to get across and push it away from the goal before it went out for a corner that came to nothing.
Following that opportunity, the game became a midfield battle, as neither side managed to test the opposing goalkeeper. The Gills had some good possession around the Salford box, which included a few corners, but they could not make anything of their solid spell.
In the 73rd minute, Gillingham made their first change, as Bradley Dack replaced Lenni Cirino.
Remeao Hutton nearly rounded off a fine move with an excellent finish. He played his throw short to Garath McCleary before playing a quick one-two. McCleary carried it inside before sending the ball towards the penalty area. It found Smith, who played it back across the box, with it falling to the oncoming Hutton.
The Gills right-back sent a first-time effort goalward, which looked destined for the bottom corner of the net before Jorge Grant stepped in to make the all-important block to send it just wide of the near post.
Grant had a good opportunity with less than five minutes remaining. Kadeem Harris’ shot was blocked by Little before the ball looped into the penalty area. It was headed towards the edge of the box, where Grant met it unchallenged, sending a low driven volley goalward. Fortunately, it went wide of the goal.
Fabio Borini should have done better moments later. The ball was laid off for him to run onto just inside the box by Udoh. The striker tried his luck with a first-time effort, trying to place it into the far left corner, but sent it wide of the target.
In the 88th minute, Gillingham made a second substitution, as Josh Andrews entered the game in the place of Ronan Hale.
Conor Masterson replaced McCleary in the third minute of additional time, as Gillingham looked to see the game out.
Morris then made two magnificent saves. The first came when Longelo sent a powerful volley goalward. The Gills goalkeeper got across and did incredibly to somehow palm it clear.
The rebound bounced favourably to Brandon Cooper to smash goalward. However, the Gills goalkeeper recovered fantastically to get back up and push it away from the goal before the visitors dealt with the impending trouble.
Seb Palmer-Houlden could have won the game with the final kick, as he carried the ball from inside the Gillingham half up to the edge of the Salford penalty area. He had a couple of options to pass to, but opted to shoot. Unfortunately, he could not keep his shot down as it cleared the crossbar.
FULL-TIME: Salford City 0-0 Gillingham
Salford City: Young, Mnoga (Stockton 90+1’), Oluwo, Cooper, Garbutt, Austerfield (Borini 59’), Butcher, Longelo, Grant, Udoh, Graydon (Harris 74’)
Unused Substitute: Howard, Dorrington, Ehibhatiomhan, Siri
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, A. Smith, Gale, Clark, Khumbeni, Little, Palmer-Houlden, McCleary (Masterson 90+3’), Cirino (Dack 73’), Hale (Andrews 88’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, McKenzie, J. Williams, Vokes
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Attendance: 4303 (522 Gills)
