Resilient Gills still in promotion race

On an afternoon of unexpected results in League Two, Gillingham held their nerve to show why manager Mark Stimson is adamant his side can still win automatic promotion.

His side’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth was far from a classic – I for one wouldn’t fancy putting together a highlights package – but as the season enters the final two months points really do make prizes.

The scrappy victory echoed the 3-1 win against Macclesfield a week earlier, although the Cherries posed far more problems. In both games for long spells Gills flattered to deceive, but when they had to they showed the necessary resilience to send the visitors packing empty-handed.

How some of their rivals would have craved a scrappy three points. Wycombe, who at one stage were waltzing their way to the title, are now looking nervously over their shoulder as their slump continued with a goalless draw at Morecambe.

Bradford, so clinical in their dissection of Gills at Priestfield earlier this month, were slapped 3-1 by Notts County. It was worse for Shrewsbury, hammered 3-0 at Macclesfield.

With Darlington’s points deduction also changing the shape of the top half, Gills now sit sixth and in the play-off positions for the first time in a month.

The pack of promotion hopefuls, which numbered as many as 14 at the start of the season, has probably now shrunk to nine. Darlington could yet clamber their way back by winning their games in hand, but Dagenham & Redbridge are on the ropes three points adrift after a 2-2 draw with Chester.

After a run of games against sides in the bottom half, Gills have duly revived their hopes. Really it was the least they had to do ahead of a tricky run-in where they will face the majority of their rivals.

Can they be considered serious automatic promotion contenders? Amazingly, even after 33 games it is difficult to say. They have been on the fringes of the top seven all season, but have never put together a sustained run of form to ever get comfortable.

Significantly though, few other teams have been able to do so either. As a result Gills have played snakes and ladders with most of the teams mentioned above. It should be a fascinating climax to the season to see just who can hold it together long enough to book their place in the final shake-down.

David Pritchard