Bradley Dack was left fuming after missing the chance to score a last-gasp winner at Priestfield.
The Gillingham midfielder has seen little action since returning this season – with fitness holding him back – but he’s come off the bench in the last three games and was agonisingly close to scoring a winner on Friday night.
With the match level at 2-2, Dack was gifted a chance from the edge of the box four minutes into stoppage time after Cheltenham goalie Joe Day punched Shad Ogie’s deep cross into his path, but the volleyed effort came off the bar and into the keeper’s hands.
It would have been a special moment for Dack, who has yet to make an impact since his much-hyped return.
“He was fuming at the end,” said Gills boss Mark Bonner.
“It would have been nice but it wasn’t to be. We’ll have to wait for that moment but I’m sure it will come soon.
“He’s trained really well, his character’s very good and he’s obviously a really talented player.
“He’s making everyone better around him and that’s why we just have to hope we can keep getting him out there and keep building him up.
“He’ll be a big player for us, he’s got lots of qualities that will serve us really well, if we can keep him out there.”
Gillingham didn’t have a lot of luck with that goal in front of the Rainham End on Friday night.
While Dack’s effort stayed out after hitting the woodwork, in the first half a free-kick from Cheltenham’s Luke Young went in off the post.
“You have to just laugh,” said the Gills boss, who had watched Young’s effort cancel out Jayden Clarke’s opener.
“You think: ‘Blimey, that is unbelievable how that’s ended up in there’. Almost the same where I laugh at the end where you think: ‘Oh my God Dacky, how’s that not gone in?’ or ‘How’s it just bounced back into the goalie’s hands?’
“They were praising God in those moments and for those situations but it is what it is.”
It wasn’t to be for Dack but he’s progressing well.
His previous two appearances off the bench were late in the game but he got a good run-out on Friday, on for Jack Nolan with 68 minutes played.
Bonner said: “There are probably a few in that bracket that are just going to keep benefiting at the moment from so long out.
“One or two have struggled in the first few games coming back (from injury) but I think Aaron Rowe grinded himself for a few games and he probably struggled more (on Friday) than he did last week (at MK Dons). That’s sometimes what happens. He’s just got to keep getting through those minutes now to build up.
“We saw it in Ethan (Coleman) when he was trying to catch up all the time but he’s playing brilliantly now. Robbie McKenzie’s had periods out but he’s a machine.
“There’s lots of them that are getting themselves up to speed and so on and hopefully Dacky can be the same, even Elliot Nevitt as well, his work ethic’s great. He assisted two goals (against Cheltenham). That’s big for us and the moment will come soon where he actually gets one himself.
“He’s excellent so we can’t wait for that and that will be a weight off his shoulders but he’s plugging away nicely.
“With Dacky, no real plan, we get led by his body really as to what we do, we won’t get greedy, we need to be sensible.
“We’ve a really busy spell. I said to the boys that we haven’t got time for people being disappointed about not playing, not being involved, being taken off the pitch, because when everyone’s fit we’ve got a lot of good players to choose from.
“I absolutely respect the fact that they’re all desperate to play and contribute, but as long as that is fuel for them to deliver for the team, I have no problem with that. Hopefully we can keep getting the benefit of everyone in the next few weeks.”
