Morecambe 1-1 Gillingham
Sky Bet League One
The Mazuma Stadium
Saturday 12 February
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 4,499 (279 away)
A Jonathan Obika strike earned the Shrimps a point after Ryan Jackson’s thunderbolt opened the scoring for the visitors.
It was an all-action second-half with Gillingham opening the scoring through substitute Jackson, who tried his luck from range, scoring arguably a Goal of the Season contenders.
Thankfully for Morecambe, Obika, off the bench, breached the Gills back-line with a stunning left-footed effort which left Aaron Chapman with no chance.
The visitors started better out of the two sides with shots from Conor Masterson and Ben Thompson trying their luck from ranger.
Stephen Robinson’s side came close to the opener through Cole Stockton, but the striker could not find the back of the net at the near post, after Arthur Gnahoua’s free-kick feel into his path after a flurry of deflections.
On the 22nd minute, Trevor Carson was called into action and made a superb save at his near pot to deny Masterson.
With seven minutes of the half remaining, the Shrimps rattled the crossbar through Gnahoua.
After some fantastic build-up play by the hosts, the ball eventually broke to Gnahoua in the box, he swivelled and got a left-footed effort away, which crashed against the bar and out of play for a goal-kick.
Half-time: Morecambe 0-0 Gillingham
The Shrimps had a couple of half-chances after the break, with Cole Stockton and Adam Phillips being inches away from putting the home side ahead.
Robinson make a change after the hour mark introducing Aaron Wildig from the bench in place of Phillips.
The game changed on the 73rd minute after a wonder goal from the visitors.
Jackson, who came on as a second-half substitute picked up the ball in his own half before advancing to the 30-yard mark, with nothing on the full-back took aim and found the back of Carson’s goal.
With six minutes left of normal time, the Shrimps hit back.
A cross-field ball by Jacob Bedeau was brought down superbly by Anthony O'Connor, he knocked the ball onto Obika, who turned his man and whipped a left-footed effort past Chapman.
There was enough time for the Shrimps to have two final opportunities. The first landing to Ayunga who forced a superb one-on-one save from Chapman.
The second one and arguably the best chance to win it for Robinson’s side fell to Obika, another expert turn in the box from the forward saw him lose his man before unleashing an effort that looked destined for the back of the net, but a world-class save from Chapman ensured the Gills left Morecambe with a point.
Full-time: Morecambe 1-1 Gillingham
Morecambe: Carson, Leigh, O’Connor, Bedeau, Cooney, Diagouraga, Phillips (Wildig 65’), McLoughlin, Gnahoua (Obika 74’), Stockton, Ayunga.
Subs not used: Smith, Connolly,, McCalmont, Fane, Bennett.
Goals: Obika 84'
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
Gillingham: Chapman, Tutonda (Jackson 61’), O’Keefe (C), Ehmer, Tucker, Thompson, Dickson-Peters (Kelman 85’), Lee (Phillips 77’), McKenzie, Masterson, Oliver.
Subs not used: Dahlberg, Lintott, Maghoma, Chambers.
Goals: Jackson 73'.
Bookings: Tutonda 45’, Oliver 90’.
Red cards: None.