Gaz’s Gills show fight against the Sulphurites

By Rhys Howell

HARROGATE TN 1

March 40 (pen)

HARROGATE: Belshaw 6, Sims 7, O’Connor 7, Moon 7, Burrell 7, Morris 7, Fox 7, Taylor 7, Muldoon 7, Daly 7 (Cursons 60, 6), March 8. Subs not used: Oxley, Asare, Cornelius, Sanderson, Dooley, Gibson.

GILLINGHAM 1

Clark 68 (pen)

GILLINGHAM: Morris 6, Smith 6, Masterson 6, Gale 7, Hutton 6, McKenzie 6, Williams 6 (Clarke 81), Clark 8, Morgan 6 (Williams 63, 6), Nevitt 7 (Wakeling 86), Gbode 6 (Hawkins 64, 6). Subs not used: Holtam, Ogie, Rowe.

Att: 3,253 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: David Rock 6/10

GARETH Ainsworth said he was satisfied with the character and work ethic that his Gillingham players demonstrated during his first game in charge of the club at Harrogate.

A penalty apiece from Josh March and Max Clark ensured the spoils were shared.

And while Ainsworth, who was lured away from League One strugglers Shrewsbury earlier in the week, admitted that there is lots to work on, he was far from downbeat after the final whistle.

“I was really pleased by the character shown by the boys today,” he said.

“I said that one of my non-negotiables is emptying the tank, and all of them emptied the tank, and that’s all you can ask.

“There is lots to work on with this team. We were a little bit nervous at times when defending, a little bit uncertain at times.

“Going forwards, we can be a lot better, we can get that ball down, but in defence of the boys, when you come away to places like Harrogate, they are quite direct and you get sucked into a direct game.

“We are all good players, but you’ve got to win the battle and earn the right to play.” Jonny Williams shot wide for the Gills early on, before Jack Muldoon drew a decent save out of Glenn Morris. March broke the deadlock in the 40th minute after converting from the spot having been brought down by Morris when clean through on goal.

Jasper Moon came close to doubling the home lead early in the second half but was narrowly off target having got on the end of March’s right-wing cross, and the Gills pulled level after 68 minutes when they were awarded a penalty.

Oli Hawkins was felled inside the Harrogate box and Clark made no mistake from 12 yards.

Muldoon and March were both denied by Morris as Town pushed to reclaim the lead, before Jayden Clarke shot wide in stoppage time.

March was booked for supposed simulation early on having gone down in the box, with Town manager Simon Weaver adamant that referee David Rock got that decision wrong.

He said: “The first incident, it 100 percent was a penalty. “I am not just giving an emotional response after the game – I actually watched it at half-time and how he has been given a yellow card, I really don’t know. It is guesswork. It’s a lottery sometimes.”