If there wasn't enough heat on before this game, the line-up was actually leaked a day early. Ordinarily you might assume that was a lucky guess but no-one could have guessed this line-up. Seven changes from Saturday - Pearce and Lavelle at the centre of defence. Purrington and Matthews back at full-back. Ben Watson and Albie Morgan back in midfield with Elliott Lee and Corey Blackett-Taylor. As Adkins hinted on Saturday bight, Stockley dropped and Washington and Davison nominally up front.
What could go wrong? Well everything of course, but we started like we meant business for the first time this season. Blackett-Taylor picked up where he left off at Wycombe, tearing down the wing at every opportunity and with supporting runs from Lee, Davison and Washington, we looked too strong for the Gills. Lee shot straight at Cumming and Blackett-Taylor whipped a couple of crosses just above the heads of Lavelle and Davison before we got the break-through after 18 minutes. Another Blackett-Taylor charge after a swift break and Lee arrived to squeeze the ball inside Cumming who should really have done more than squat in front of it and watch it pass his head.
Local lad Conor Washington really should have extended our lead before half-time when Lee sent him free in acres of space. He cut into the box and should have beaten the keeper but the recovering Jack Tucker made up massive distance and made a superb sliding block. We tired understandably before half-time but it had been a promising first-half.
We started the second-half with Leko on for Washington. Unsure why, unless it was a punishment for his howling miss before the break. Whatever, Steve Evans had clearly given his side a rollicking and they suddenly pushed up on us and saw a lot more of the ball. We were under pressure for the first time and on 56 they equalised when a ball off the post was deflected in by Purrington. We continued to try and get forward when we could but without the pace and adventure of the first half. Davison should have finished off a decent move at the far post but Cumming somehow got across to stop his shot and Lavelle couldn't beat him from six yards either from the resulting corner.
Lee was subbed for Gilbey on 75 minutes and after that we had to suffer Pearce to Matthews to Watson to Pearce to Matthews as Gillingham pushed up and tried for the winner. They very nearly got it when Dempsey was played in and smacked his shot past MacGillivray but the post came to our rescue.
The clamour for Adkins to go will continue and he will probably limp on to Saturday but the guillotine is ready to fall.
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