It’s back-to-back draws for Harrogate as it finishes goalless at the EnviroVent Stadium, which sees Gillingham move two points clear of the home side in the league table.
It was a cagey affair that lacked a real cutting edge. Gills were the better team in the first ten minutes, but after that, Harrogate looked the most threatening without having too many clear-cut chances.
The draw moves Gillingham eight points clear of the relegation zone with two games in hand on Colchester, who sit a place above them.
Harrogate are six points clear of the drop; however, Crawley, who are in the relegation zone, have two games in hand on them, so it’s a good point considering the form of Gillingham, but they’re still in a battle against relegation.
FT: Harrogate 0-0 Gillingham#Gills pic.twitter.com/k1yNhIXeeh
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) March 4, 2023
Starting Line-Ups
Gillingham made two changes from the midweek defeat to Bradford. However, the changes were on a positive note with Dieng and Nichols returning from injury to take up a place straight into the starting lineup.
Harrogate went with the same team that picked up a point against Northampton earlier in the week. There was also positive news for the home team as Alexander Pattison returned to the bench after his injury against Swindon,
The Match
The match started in rapid fashion as O’Brien, inside the first minute, took a lovely touch and then fired well over the bar. Not too long after the forward registered the first shot on target, some lovely play between Tutonda, Dieng, and Nichols created the chance for O’Brien, but he struck the ball straight at Oxley in the Harrogate goal.
Harrogate’s first chance of the match came when Morris failed to collect the aerial ball and Jack Muldoon pounced on it with a header, which was cleared away by Ehmer.
The home side were beginning to enjoy a nice spell as minutes after the Muldoon chance, Olaigbe skipped past a couple of players and fired inches past the post, which had goalkeeper Morris scrambling.
Both teams struggled to create much, a clever ball from Nichols found O’Brien again, who had men in the box, but managed to force a corner.
There was some good work by Sutton to managed to ease past Dieng and get a fine shot off, which was matched with a smart low stop by Morris.
Harrogate were growing in belief as Armstrong seemed to want the ball more than anyone around him and struck the ball on the half volley, which went straight at Morris in the Gills’ goal.
After a half that had little stoppages, the referee blew the whistle just before the 45-minute mark with no added time.
Half Time: Harrogate 0 – 0 Gillingham
Harrogate had the better chances in the first half, but in terms of the end product, the first half lacked quality in the final third.
Gills started the second half like they started the first: high tempo and on the front foot.
The first chance of the second half fell at the feet of Oli Hawkins, who was unable to adjust his feet and ended up missing the ball completely.
O’Brien found half a yard well, but snatched at his shot and ended up slicing the ball well wide of the goal.
It was Harrogate’s turn to fire back, as an audacious effort that should have been comfortable was spilt by Morris, fortunately it was saved by his defender as Ehmer managed to clear the ball away.
O’Brien was the man who had the Gills’ best chance of the game so far, and it fell to him in a brilliant position, but his cross-come-shot went out for a goal kick. It marked a good chance wasted.
Oli Hawkins picked up the first yellow card of the game after the referee judged his tackle to be a late one. The Gills made the first substitution of the game, bringing on Alex MacDonald for Shaun Williams.
With not much happening, in the 70th minute, David Tutonda tried to take matters into his own hands when it bounced up nicely from 35 yards out, and his effort was looping in until Oxley got a vital touch and tipped it over the bar.
Harrogate made their first substitution of the game with returning Alexander Pattison replacing Daniel Grant.
Heading into the last 15 minutes, Gills were caught sleeping when Harrogate took a short corner and Olaigbe beat the first man before striking it at Morris and winning another corner.
With Harrogate gaining momentum, the hard work was almost undone by a poor back pass that put MacDonald in before a last-ditch block saved Harrogate from falling behind.
The best chance of the half for Gillingham came when MacDonald played a delicious low ball into the box where Hawkins found himself free, and completely missed the ball.
Olaigbe, who had a brilliant game, was running past players before slotting the ball into Luke Armstrong, who telegraphed his shot, and Morris got down low and made the save.
Harrogate made another substitution with less than five minutes to go, with George Thompson replacing Sutton. Timothee Dieng picked up a yellow card for a tactical foul on Olaigbe. With less than a minute to go Harrogate brought Matty Daly on for Jack Muldoon.
With only two minutes added on at the end, the final chance of the game fell to Harrogate when substitute George Thompson found some space and tried beating Morris at his best post and forced another good save.
FULL TIME: Harrogate 0 – 0 Gillingham