Gillingham 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers - Comical own goal gifts leaders an undeserved point

And it also extended the Gills’ unbeaten home run to eleven league games as Mark Stimson’s side stay in the contention at the top of the table - the Gills are now in tenth place just two points from the play-off places, and five from the automatic promotion places.

For Wycombe Wanderers boss Peter Taylor, who of course needs no introduction to Kent football fans, you couldn’t help but wonder how the team seen at Priestfield this afternoon could go into today’s game seven points clear at the top of the table, for over the ninety minutes the visitors’ failed to muster a single shot on Simon Royce’s goal and the Gills keeper was only beaten by a contender for the flukiest goal of the season.

The Gills started encouragingly and on eight minutes a free-kick from Nicky Southall, who spent a spell on loan at Dover Athletic earlier in the season, caused chaos in the Wanderers’ defence and following up Weston saw his shot charged down.

On 19 minutes, Southall himself went agonisingly close to giving the Gills the lead as he curled a shot narrowly wide of the right post from the edge of the box after a great knock back from Dennis Oli.

Totally against the run of play, and undeserved, Wycombe took the lead on the half-hour mark, with a contender for all of those football videos that would have filled football fans’ Christmas stockings.

A long ball was pumped forward by the Wycombe defence and substitute Matt Bloomfield raced clear trying to control the ball. As he reached the edge of the area, Gills keeper Royce and Stuart Lewis both arrived to block at the same time.

But for the unfortunate Lewis, the keeper’s clearance ballooned off his back over the stranded Royce and almost apologetically crept over the line.

To their credit, Stimson’s side remained focused and Wycombe were indebted moments later to former Gills defender Leon Johnson, as once again Weston was denied following an Albert Jarrett corner.

On the stroke of half-time Jarrett was injured in the act of crossing and the introduction of Gary Mulligan meant that the Gills looked far more balanced going forward in the second period.

Just six minutes after the break, top scorer Simeon Jackson had loud appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Booth as the striker was upended on the edge of the area.

Mulligan then saw an overhead kick go straight at Wycombe keeper Scott Shearer, before Southall and Weston combined again, only for Weston to sky the ball high into the Rainham End when the midfielder had more time than he realised.

Mulligan then appeared to be hauled back inside the penalty area, but yet again referee Booth infuriated the home fans in the biggest Priestfield league gate of the season, by waving away the appeals.

Southall, who was magnificent throughout, was then released by Oli and his pull-back found the luckless Weston, who this time, fired across the face of goal and inches wide of the far post.

That was the final sighter that the young midfielder needed because four minutes later on 83 minutes the equaliser came at last!

Oli was this time felled on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick from Southall the Wycombe defence failed to clear and Weston let fly from thirty-yards and his shot screamed into the top left-hand corner with keeper Shearer motionless. Priestfield erupted.

The Gills could have snatched victory in the dying seconds as Jackson saw a header flash narrowly wide from yet another Southall free-kick.

Once more the Gills have proved on home ground they are more than a match for anyone in League Two - if only they could pick up a few more points on their travels.

Gillingham: Simon Royce, Stuart Lewis, Garry Richards, Simon King, John Nutter, Simeon Jackson, Nicky Southall, Adam Miller, Curtis Weston, Albert Jarrett (Gary Mulligan 45), Dennis Oli.
Subs: Alan Julian, Leigh Mills, Jack Payne, Andy Pugh.

Goal: Curtis Weston 83

Wycombe Wanderers: Scott Shearer, Craig Woodman, Leon Johnson, Mike Williamson, David McCracken (Matt Bloomfield 15), Matt Harrold, Tommy Doherty (Will Antwi 67), Lewis Spence, John Mousinho, Angelo Balanta (Magno Silva Vieira 83), Matt Phillips.
Subs: Jamie Young, Nathan Ashton.

Goal: Stuart Lewis 30 (own goal)

Booked: Will Antwi 82

Attendance: 5,979
Referee: Mr Russell Booth
Assistants: Mr Olek Saliy & Mr Grant Smith
Fourth Official: Mr Harry Lennard