Gillingham 1 (Dack 41) Charlton 1 (Ajose 90,pen).
Kevin Nolan reports from Priestfield Stadium.
A tale of two penalties at a rocking Priestfield Stadium was resolved in the last minute by coolhanded Nicky Ajose, who stared down substitute goalkeeper Stuart Nelson’s blatant gamesmanship and nervelessly dispatched Charlton’s second spotkick into the bottom right corner. While Nelson was booked for his fruitless histrionics, Ajose secured a point for the visitors which even their most devoted fan scarcely saw coming.
For the most part outclassed, out-muscled and outmanouevred by the Gills, the Addicks were left grateful for two eagle-eyed (or boss-eyed, depending upon your allegiance) interventions by referee Mark Haywood. Clearly no “homer”, Haywood spotted infractions committed by the unaccountably panicky blue-clad defenders as they struggled to deal with a salvo of corners launched into their six-yard area by Ademola Lookman.
The ballsy official’s first award punished an all-in wrestling hold applied by Ryan Jackson on Fredrik Ulvestad as they clashed on Gillingham’s goalline. Skipper Johnnie Jackson, who had missed Charlton’s last penalty in a 1-0 defeat by Rochdale, was perhaps mercifully unavailable after being withdrawn by Russell Slade at half-time. Up stepped Ricky Holmes instead to place his effort at a convenient height for Nelson to save smartly at full length to his right.
Having replaced the injured Jonathan Bond on 31 minutes, Nelson had performed heroically but finally ran out of luck in the final minute of normal time. Haywood was again well positioned to witness the senseless handball by Chris Herd, under moderate pressure from Jason Pearce, which illegally dealt with another of Lookman’s setpieces. Ajose’s confident equaliser duly secured Charlton’s 8th draw of the season, six of them by this well-used 1-1 scoreline.
While taking into account two fine reaction saves by Nelson to deny first Josh Magennis’ textbook header from Lookman’s precise cross, then Ezri Konsa’s improvised volley which cleverly re-directed Pearce’s knockdown, Gillingham enjoyed almost total control. Which made it manager Justin Edinburgh’s turn to experience the “absolutely sick” feeling suffered by Slade at Port Vale during the week. His side’s failure to consolidate their superiority with a second goal was to cost them from the penalty spot as dearly as it had Charlton in the Potteries.
Stabilised by the midfield generalship of Bradley Dack and, inspired on the right flank by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ trickery, Gillingham cruised through a first half of complete domination. Not above mixing the physical with the cerebral (a habit which brought about their late downfall), they made all the early chances, the most notable of which was created for Dack by Emmanuel-Thomas’ skilful run through feeble challenges from Lookman and Morgan Fox. Sent clear by the winger’s adroit pass, an overlapping Dack was unable to beat the advancing Declan Rudd. The long-haired busybody was also set up by Frank Nouble but blasted wide from a promising position.
A dominant but potentially frustrating first half was winding down when Gills finally broke through, thanks to the combined efforts of two former Addicks. Veteran Paul Konchesky, now a youthful-looking 35, had been quietly effective in nullifying dangerman Ricky Holmes before, four minutes from the break, turning the tables on his opponent. Cutting inside Holmes near the left touchline, he produced a peach of a cross with his less favoured right foot to which Dack, in space created by his clever movement, did justice by looping a deliberate header over Rudd’s straining right hand.
Slade’s interval replacement of a worryingly anonymous Jackson by the out-of-favour Ajose and an adjustment of Charlton’s amorphous shape (it seemed like 4-4-1-1, 4-5-1, at times even 4-3-3 to your tactically illiterate reporter) to that good old standby 4-4-2, brought steady improvement. Too lightweight to play strictly alongside Magennis up front, Ajose, with a point he was eager to prove, began to forage to good effect, Holmes came alive and Ulvestad’s quality surfaced. And there was always Lookman, a mixture of exuberant self-indulgence and raw talent, to be kept quiet. Though not exactly desperate, Edinburgh’s men were not quite the cocksure outfit that had bossed the opening period. Their lead – one they might have doubled had referee Haywood agreed that an escaping Cody McDonald was chopped down inside the penalty area by the hotly pursuing Konsa – was temporarily protected by the magnificently defiant Nelson until ill-discipline eventually undermined them. They were made to pay by Ajose, who headed straight for the boss to stake a public claim for selection. He made a justifiable point. And so did Charlton – with a helpful dollop of good fortune.
Gillingham: Bond (Nelson 31), Jackson (Osadebe 84), Herd, Ehmer, Konchesky, Emmanuel-Thomas, Dack, Hessenthaler, Knott, Nouble, McDonald. Not used: Donnelly, Pask, Oldaker, List, Byrne. Booked: Dack, Jackson, Hessenthaler, Nouble.
Charlton: Rudd, Solly, Konsa, Pearce, Fox, Jackson (Ajose 46), Holmes, Crofts, Ulvestad, Lookman, Magennis (Novak 78). Not used: Phillips, Foley, Lennon, Hanlan, Texeira. Booked: Magennis, Solly.
Referee: Mark Haywood.
Att: 8,670 (3,360 visiting).