Preview: Gillingham

14 April 2022

Gillingham and Cheltenham Town meet for the fifth and final time this season on Friday at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).

It has been the Robins who have held the upper hand between the two teams this season having already met in the Carabao Cup, twice in the FA Cup first round courtesy of a replay, and once in the League back in November.

A lot of time and football has passed since then though and Gillingham visit on Friday desperate to get a much needed positive result as they target an end of season battle to avoid one of the three remaining relegation spots.

Following a pleasing home win against Portsmouth last weekend, Cheltenham are continuing to target a club record finish so will be looking to start the Easter weekend in positive fashion ahead of Monday's journey to Lincoln City.

Tickets for Friday's game are available to buy online. Buy before midnight on Thursday to save £2 on price increases on a matchday.

Team news

There are no fresh injury concerns going into the game. Ben Williams is expected to be missing with his hamstring problem, however Charlie Colkett (pictured) could be back in after a recent spell on the sidelines.

January addition Charlie Brown is expected to be involved again after overcoming the fitness issues that have ruled him out for much of the second half of the season.

Media talk

Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Michael Duff has highlighted the improvements Gillingham have made under new manager Neil Harris in the second half of the season.

"They've got a different manager, a different way of playing - I think he's done a brilliant job Neil," he said on iFollow.

"I think they've kept six clean sheets in 14. He has got them really organised. You've always got a chance when you've got someone like Vadaine Oliver."

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Kion Etete has also been speaking to the press and he is aware of how much of a threat Gillingham will offer on Friday.

"With the position that they are in I feel it makes them more dangerous because they have something that they need to fight for," he said when speaking to the press on iFollow.

Opposition

Friday's game is one of four massive end of season matches for Gillingham with their League One future on a knife edge.

They are currently in the final relegation spot, one step from safety, on goal difference. After taking on the Robins on Friday they have a massive fixture with relegation rivals Fleetwood Town on Easter Monday at home. They then travel away to Portsmouth before hosting promotion chasing Rotherham United on the final day.

It's been a tough season with former boss Steve Evans leaving earlier in the campaign to allow Neil Harris to take over as manager in late January.

Last time out they earned a much needed home point against Wycombe Wanderers. Important wins over the likes of Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers and Accrington Stanley in the past few weeks have given them hope in their attempts to stay up as they at one point looked as though they could have been cut adrift.

They'll be hoping a number of their key men will step up at the most important point of their season in the next couple of weeks.

Front man Vadaine Oliver has ten goals to his name this season and offers a physical presence up front, while just behind him the likes of Olly Lee and January signing Ben Thompson provide Championship experience.

Skipper Stuart O'Keefe is another with useful experience, while German defender Max Ehmer is in his second stint with the Gills having made over 200 League appearances at Priestfield.

The youthfulness offered by QPR loanee Charlie Kelman, Robbie McKenzie and Republic of Ireland under-21 international Conor Masterton, another on loan from QPR, have as big a role to play in ensuring the club remains in the third tier.

The manager: Neil Harris

Neil Harris' arrival as manager at the end of January has seen an upturn in form for the Gills that has increased their chances of avoiding the drop.

It's his third managerial position having previously managed in the Championship at Millwall and Cardiff City - of whom he led to the Championship play-offs in the 2019/20 campaign.

He had one season at Gillingham as a loanee during the 2005/06 campaign, signing on loan from Nottingham Forest having spent most of his playing days with Millwall where he's highly regarded at The Den. He also had brief stints at Cardiff City and Southend United and he's assisted at Gillingham by former Millwall teammate David Livermore.

Tickets

Buy tickets for the game online in advance. Purchase before midnight on Thursday to save £2 on matchday price increases.

If buying on the day you can buy tickets for the Autovillage Stand from the ticket office. For standing areas from the matchday sales point in the car park next to the bowls club and next to the Parklands turnstiles if purchasing for the Colin Farmer Stand.

Fans who have pre-paid for tickets can pick them up for all standing areas and the Autovillage Stand from the matchday ticket point in the car park. For the Colin Farmer Stand these will be available to pick up from next to the Parklands turnstiles.

Match programme

Pick up a copy of Friday's match programme for £3 around the stadium. Friday's copy features a big interview with Reece Hutchinson describing his ambitions for the final stages of the season and his journey from Burton Albion to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

There are also features with Will Boyle, Michael Duff and more in Friday's issue which is also available to purchase online.

Previous meeting

The fourth meeting this season between Gillingham and Cheltenham was the first League fixture between the two teams.

A Tuesday night visit to Priestfield ended in three points for the Robins with a 2-0 win.

Chris Hussey's corner dropped for Sean Long and the Irishman swept in to give Michael Duff's charges the lead.

It was 2-0 on the hour mark when Alfie May latched onto a Kyle Vassell header to score when one-on-one.

Coverage

Social media: Stay up to date by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter, while score updates will also be available on the club's Facebook and Instagram account.

Listen: Full match commentary is available to hear on iFollow. Purchase an audio match pass for £2.50. If you are in Gloucestershire you can tune in on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Website: You'll be able to read a full match report on the club website. You'll also be able to watch the post-match press conferences on iFollow.

Highlights: For extended highlights, check out iFollow. Otherwise you can view shorter highlights on Sky Sports and YouTube.

Match Reports

Report: Robins 2-2 Gillingham

15 April 2022

Cheltenham fought back twice to register a 2-2 draw against relegation strugglers Gillingham at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Vadaine Oliver gave Gillingham the lead inside 14 minutes, before Callum Wright equalised five minutes before the break.

Ben Reeves’ unerring strike fired Gillingham back into the lead in the 59th minute but Kion Etete’s powerful header levelled the score in the final 15 minutes.

Gillingham leapfrog Fleetwood Town to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since November 23, while Cheltenham remain in 12th place.

Ryan Jackson’s long throws and the aerial prowess and elusive runs of Oliver proved a serious menace for the Cheltenham defence. Jackson cut inside from the left and drew a low save from Owen Evans at his near post.

It proved an early warning sign as Gillingham opened the scoring two minutes later. Reeves sent a looping header into the heart of the penalty area, and Oliver mercilessly punished the Cheltenham back-line for failing to clear their lines, by prodding his finish past Evans.

A beautiful diagonal ball from Liam Sercombe presented Alfie May with a golden opportunity but Conor Masterson shifted across to sweep the ball behind as May was bearing down on goal.

Cheltenham required an astonishing save from Evans to prevent them from falling further behind. A venomous volley from the right boot of Reeves looked destined to find the top corner but Evans was at full stretch to tip his effort over the crossbar.

The Robins had struggled to click into the gear in the opening 30 minutes but finished the first half strongly. Sean Long chipped the ball into the box, Wright cushioned the ball down with his chest for Sercombe but Aaron Chapman thwarted him with a low diving save.

They capitalised on their resurgent spell by levelling proceedings just before the break. Etete propelled Cheltenham forward with a lung-busting run and squared for May to take aim from just inside the box. His strike was parried by Chapman and Wright was on hand to tap in from close-range.

Gillingham restored their lead just before the hour-mark with Reeves, on his first start in two months, providing the goal for the visitors. Oliver showed great feet on the edge of the box and weaved the ball to Reeves with an elegant back heal. Reeves swivelled into space and dispatched a curling effort into the far bottom corner from just inside the box.

Olly Lee came to within a lick of paint away from doubling the Gills’ lead when his thunderous free-kick from the inside left channel cannoned off the underside of the crossbar. Cheltenham improved following a slow start after the break with Sercombe and Boyle forcing saves from Chapman.

The Robins found their second equaliser of the afternoon courtesy of a bullet header from Etete. Sercombe floated his corner to the back post for Long to loop his header into the heart of the box. Etete muscled off his marker and powered the ball beyond Chapman.

Cheltenham were looking to register four successive home wins in League One for the first time and came close to finding a winner when May’s strike whistled wide.

Gillingham had two late chances to snatch all three points deep into the seven minutes of stoppage time. Masterson’s low drive from the edge of the box crashed against the post with Evans rooted to the spot and an audacious overhead kick from Oliver sailed wide of the target.

Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): O Evans; S Long, M Pollock, W Boyle (c); C Thomas (A Ramsey 62), L Sercombe, E Bonds, C Wright, R Hutchinson (L Freestone 83); K Etete, A May.

Subs not used: S Flinders, C Raglan, E Chapman, G Lloyd, C Brown.

Gillingham (3-4-1-2): A Chapman; R Jackson, C Masterson, M Ehmer (c), J Tucker, R McKenzie; B Thompson, B Reeves (D Tutonda 81), O Lee (D Phillips 73); V Oliver, C Kelman.

Subs not used: P Dahlberg, T Dickson-Peters, G Sithole, C Maghoma, B Akehurst.

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 4,415

Ticket News

Tickets on sale for Gillingham

11 April 2022

Good Friday sees Cheltenham Town welcome Gillingham to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

It's a 3pm kick-off for the penultimate home match of the club's League One campaign.

Victory over Portsmouth last Saturday has guaranteed third tier football at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for the 2022/23 campaign.

Gillingham will travel to Gloucestershire in much need of a positive result as they look to drag themselves away from relegation trouble, while for the Robins there's an aim to go on and secure the club's highest ever league position.

Tickets for the game are available to buy online or from the ticket office during opening hours.

If you buy before midnight on Thursday you can save £2 on matchday prices.