Exeter City 0 Gillingham 0
Deon Burton is fouled by Exeter keeper Artur
Krysiak Picture: Barry Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham stretched their unbeaten run away from home in the
league to 11 games following a goalless draw at Exeter on Tuesday
night.
The hosts, who started the
match sitting seventh in League 2, had the majority of the
clear-cut chances but failed to convert.
Gills boss Martin Allen made two changes to
his starting 11, with Danny East coming in to make his first
start since joining on loan from Hull City. He replaced Chris
Whelpdale. Striker Deon Burton was the other change, coming in for
Danny Kedwell.
On the bench was Andy Frampton,
who made a welcome return to the matchday squad for the first
time since being given the all-clear following a blow to the
head.
Gillingham’s impressive run of results were
on the line at a club where they hadn’t won since Boxing Day 1961.
In the 20 games since then the Gills had lost 10 and drawn 10 at St
James Park.
They started the game at a good pace and
were awarded four corners in the opening 15 minutes. But apart from
a couple of headers that Leon Legge placed wide there wasn’t
much to trouble home keeper Artur Krysiak.
Exeter came into the game as the half wore
on and striker Jamie Cureton was able to run onto numerous long
balls hit over the Gills defence. He came close, but not close
enough.
Jake Gosling and Matt Oakley
also went near for the hosts but the Gills held on
until the break.
Charlie Lee was brought on at the break for
the Gills but Exeter remained dangerous at the start of the second
half, with a shot from Craig Woodman heading towards the net,
before Adam Barrett made a block.
Mark Molesley also shot over as the Gills
found chances hard to come by.
Kedwell came on for the last 25 minutes to
try and forge an opening for the visitors, as he partnered Burton
in attack. It was the Gills’ leading scorer who had the first
opportunity of the half but Kedwell’s chip over the keeper landed
just wide.
Cureton remained a threat at the other end
and only a great hooked clearance from Legge denied the striker
from running clear in on goal from another ball over the top.
Anton Robinson blasted a shot into the
keeper’s arms as the Gills enjoyed more of the ball towards the
latter stages.
A chance for Exeter to win it fell to
Guillem Bauza in the dying minutes but Adam Barrett’s lunge was
enough to put him off and he scuffed the ball wide.
Gillingham: Nelson, Fish,
Martin, Legge, Barrett, Gregory, Robinson, Dack (Frampton 60mins),
East (Lee 46mins), German (Kedwell 65mins), Burton. Subs not used:
Forecast, Whelpdale, Davies, Birchall
Exeter: Krysiak, Woodman,
Amankwah, Baldwin, Coles, Bennett, Oakley (Keohane 57mins), Davies,
Molesley (O’Flynn 74mins), Gosling, Cureton (Bauza 74mins). Subs
not used: Evans, Tully, Dawson, Moore-Taylor.
Attendance: 3,608
12/03/13
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