Gillingham 1 Cambridge United 1: League 2 match report from Priestfield Stadium

Gillingham fought back to claim a point against Cambridge United on Boxing Day.

Louis Appere put Cambridge ahead but the Gills levelled midway through the second half through Max Clark, scoring straight after Robbie McKenzie’s penalty had been saved.

The Gills pushed for a winner after equalising, but remain without a win at home since mid-September after the match ended 1-1. Gillingham are also without a win in seven, with six of those finishing in a draw.

Former Gills boss Neil Harris was in charge of the visitors - assisted by title-winning skipper Adam Barrett.

Cambridge’s director of football Mark Bonner had taken over as manager of the Gills after Harris was sacked in October 2023. Neither had been able to satisfy the owners at Priestfield enough.

Their team come up against a Gills side who started the day 12th in the League 2 table, behind Cambridge in the table.

Gills manager Gareth Ainsworth reverted to a back four and had his big strikers available again, naming Josh Andrews as a starter and Sam Vokes on a subs’ bench that included leading scorer Bradley Dack - taken out of the starting line-up to manage his minutes.

Gillingham needed wins to get back involved with the chasing pack in League 2 but found themselves behind after 10 minutes.

Sam Gale had an early effort ruled out for offside, and Max Clark went close from a corner, keeper Jake Eastwood having to claw his inswinging kick from the underside of the bar.

Cambridge had just one effort at goal in the opening half and they scored from it.

James Gibbons headed the ball across goal and into the path of Appere, to finish from just in front of the goal.

Wayward efforts from Armani Little and McKenzie followed for the Gills as they looked to reply.

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