Joe Gbode came off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser to secure ten man Gillingham a point in a 1-1 draw against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.
Omari Patrick gave Tranmere the lead on 63 minutes. Kristian Dennis, who was coming back from an offside position, flicked the ball on into the path of Patrick, who raced through on goal. He remained composed before slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net. There was controversy surrounding the goal, with the belief that Dennis was offside.
In the second minute of added time, Gbode drew Gills level. A corner was cleared as far as Armani Little, who did well to make his way into the box before getting a shot away. His attempt ricocheted around the Tranmere penalty area before dropping into a cluster of players. Gbode took a swing at the ball, sending it goalward, and the ball took a deflection before trickling into the bottom corner.
Max Clark was sent off for a second bookable offence when he and Cameron Norman got into an altercation in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting XI that beat Walsall in the previous league game. Sam Gale, Ethan Coleman and Josh Andrews came into the side. Conor Masterson and Shad Ogie missed out due to injury, and Joe Gbode dropped to the bench.
Robbie McKenzie had a half-chance for the visitors in the early stages. Armani Little curled a left-footed cross into the box, which McKenzie glanced towards the far corner. However, his attempt bounced wide of the goal.
Gills were forced into their first change in the 28th minute when Ethan Coleman suffered a head injury and was unable to continue. He was replaced by Jonny Williams.
The game was a midfield battle in the opening 30 minutes, with Gills defending their penalty area well. Tranmere were restricted to next to nothing bar a Josh Davison header that cleared the frame of the goal.
Charlie Whitaker had the first shot on goal in the 37th minute. He tried his luck from 20 yards out, with his effort proving a comfortable save for Glenn Morris, who got down to his left to gather.
Elliott Nevitt had a half-chance after a smart free-kick by Bradley Dack. He took it quickly from just inside the Gillingham half, floating a long ball out to the right wing for Remeao Hutton to run onto. Hutton got on the end of it, taking the ball into the penalty area before cutting it back to Nevitt, who saw his attempt blocked by a sliding Tranmere defender.
HALF-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Gillingham
Omari Patrick gave Tranmere the lead in the 63rd minute. The ball was played forward towards Kristian Dennis, who was coming back from an offside position. He flicked it into the path of Patrick, who went racing through on goal before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. There were appeals for offside by the Gillingham players and staff, but the goal stood.
In the 70th minute, Gillingham made their second substitution, as Gbode replaced Josh Andrews.
Gills made a triple substitution with just over ten minutes remaining. Marcus Wyllie, Nelson Khumbeni and Aaron Rowe replaced Nevitt, Dack and Hutton respectively.
The hosts were applying pressure, looking for a second as Gillingham had to put their bodies on the line. There was a scramble around the six-yard box until the ball came out to Nathan Smith, who got a shot away. His attempt was blocked by McKenzie, and the ball went out of play for a corner, which came to nothing.
In the second minute of additional time, Gbode equalised for Gillingham. A corner was cleared as far as Little, who did well to get into the penalty area before getting a shot away. His effort ricocheted around the penalty area before dropping into a cluster of players. Gbode was in the middle of that and managed to make a swipe at the ball, sending it goalward.
It took a deflection off a Tranmere defender before trickling into the bottom corner, leaving Luke McGee rooted to his spot.
Max Clark was sent off for a second bookable offence moments later after an altercation on the left touchline, which saw Cameron Norman also booked.
FULL-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Gillingham
Tranmere Rovers: McGee, O’Connor, Smith, Brough, Norman, Smallwood, Kenneh, Patrick, Harris (Dennis 62’), Whitaker (Bristow 63’), Davison (Jennings 88’)
Unused Substitutes: Murphy, Lowe, Solomon, Blacker
Gillingham: Morris, Gale, McKenzie, Smith, Clark, Little, Coleman (J. Williams 27’), Hutton (Rowe 79’), Dack (Khumbeni 79’), Nevitt (Wyllie 79’), Andrews (Gbode 70’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Cirino
Referee: Declan Bourne
Attendance: 6981 (426 Gillingham supporters)
