Gillingham claimed a point off the league leaders on Saturday but had enough chances to win it.
Veteran Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris had to pull off several top saves to keep the game scoreless at the break. The hosts then had the better of the second-half chances but couldn’t find the moment of quality to win it – a story of this season and beyond.
The two sides had met just a few weeks before, that match at the Bescot ending 1-1, another meeting where the Gills felt they had done enough to take maximum points
The Gills hadn’t beaten Walsall in any of their previous nine meetings at Priestfield – Gary Mulligan’s double in a 2-1 win in 2017 the last time they managed it – but John Coleman’s team were looking for a third straight win at home after wins over Morecambe and Bradford earlier in the month.
With no wins in five for Walsall, the Gills went into the game in better form at least.
In a change upfront, Elliott Nevitt had returned to the starting line-up for the Gills as Oli Hawkins dropped to the bench.
The visitors, sitting three points clear at the top of League 2 ahead of the weekend, had to make several enforced changes with two of their mainstay defenders on international duty and their on-loan keeper with the England under-21 squad.
Stand-in stopper San Hornby didn’t have a great deal to do in the opening half. The Gills got on the ball plenty but were struggling to make the most of it.
They looked most dangerous from set-pieces.
Gillingham had equalised late on the week before from a free-kick and Armani Little was stood over an early set-piece, from a similar location to that goal at Accrington.
Little went for goal this time, drew a save from Hornby, and Max Clark was unable to replicate his previous heroics as from a tight angle he fired wide.
Conor Masterson did have the ball in the net from a Clark free-kick but the referee’s whistle had sounded long before it found its way in.
From another free-kick the Gills were cursing the eagle-eyed referee.
The Gills were often looking to pick out the runs of Joe Gbode and when he beat his man on the byline, he was chopped down. From the free-kick, Clark picked out JJ Morgan on the edge of the box, unmarked, but the official had spotted an infringement and from the re-taken set-piece nothing emerged of note as the element of surprise had passed.
It was an opening half where Gills’ goalkeeper stole the show.
He made a super double save early in the half. Masterson had been beaten to the ball by Jamille Matt. Albert Adomah then got the better of Andy Smith to pick out Matt, who only had Morris to beat. The Gills keeper saved and then got to his feet to keep out Jamie Jellis’ follow-up.
Later in the half, Morris made an even better stop, showing great reflexes to get down and save one-handed from Matt. The striker headed at goal from close-range off Jellis’ pinpoint cross. Adomah was unable to squeeze in a shot as the ball ran out of play at the far post.
Morris was also alert to sweep up and clear as Adomah got past Sam Gale late in the first half.
Morgan went close for the Gills shortly after the restart with a dipping effort from just inside the area, one that wasn’t far off the target.
Robbie McKenzie also tried his luck, from a little further out. His low strike was saved by Hornby after being directed to the bottom corner.
Gbode headed wide for the Gills with an hour gone as the home side looked the more likely to find a breakthrough. Morgan also had a shot blocked from the edge of the box.
Several players needed treatment in the second half which slowed the pace a bit. Clark was wrapped up in a bandage after a hefty collision with Nathan Asiimwe.
Walsall went for the subs first – a sign of them needed to find a different kind of approach. Former Maidstone United striker Levi Amantchi was given 20 minutes to try and help turn the tide.
The visitors did up the tempo as Evan Weir had a powerful shot blocked and Asiimwe’s inviting cross went unclaimed during a positive spell for the otherwise average table-toppers.
Gillingham continued to win free-kicks around the edge of the box and when Nevitt was tripped right on the edge of the area with 12 minutes left, it was a golden chance to go ahead.
Little remained the go-to-man for free-kicks but when he teed up McKenzie the shot was blocked.
Substitute Jonny Williams fired over for the Gills and Jacob Wakeling came close to creating the winner after he was also introduced off the bench, crossing for Nevitt, but the striker’s effort was struck at the keeper.
Williams bent another shot just wide before nine minutes were added on at the end of the 90.
Harry Williams shot over the bar from a stoppage-time Walsall corner as the visitors put on some late pressure.
Man-of-the-match Gills keeper Morris remained cool to get hold of the ball after Gale inadvertently directed it towards his own goal from a free-kick and Alfie Chang also went close. Ryan Stirk put a shot over the bar in the last big moment of the game.
League 2 table
Gillingham: Morris, Masterson, Smith, Gale, Hutton, Clark, Little, McKenzie, Morgan (J Williams 71mins), Nevitt, Gbode (Wakeling 84mins). Subs not used: Turner, Ehmer, Hawkins, Corness, E Williams.
Walsall: Hornby, McEntee, Allen, Weir, Williams, Lakin (Johnson 84mins), Stirk, Asiimwe, Jellis (Comley 84mins), Adomah (Chang 91mins), Matt (Amantchi 71mins). Subs not used: Barrett, Daniels, Browne.
Referee: Andrew Humphries
Attendance: 6,153 (395 away)
