GILLINGHAM 1 CARLISLE UNITED 1 No surprise – let’s do it all again next week!

AN immoveable object met an irresistible force at the Priestfield Stadium as League One Gillingham’s impressive run of just one defeat in 10 came up against an equally eye-catching run of one defeat in seven from their lower league visitors.

And it was no surprise to anyone as two extremely disciplined sides fought their way to a replay at Brunton Park in 10 days’ time.

The hosts made the first attack of the day count when they kept the pressure on as Jones cleared an underhit corner delivery from Wagstaff.

The same player recovered the ball and floated a high pass at Wilkinson on the edge of the area. Defender Tom Parkes moved to intervene, but he was judged to have pushed the Gillingham man to the ground and the referee blew for a free kick.

Jack Bonham could do nothing as Luke O’Neill’s set piece flew over the wall and arrowed into the top corner.

Carlisle responded with a well-crafted build up which allowed Bennett to pull into space and nod the ball down for Etuhu to strike from the edge of the box.

The midfielder caught it cleanly and Holy was relieved to see it whip past his upright.

The away team started to pull the strings and centre back Gary Liddle took matters into his own hands when he strode forward with the ball at his feet. It opened up in front of him and he was disappointed to see his low drive bend away from the target.

Gillingham started to look effective on the break and a neat touch from Eaves caught United light at the back as Wilkinson took it under control.

His first shot was blocked but his follow-up had to be tipped over the bar by Bonham as it bounced wickedly off the floor and threatened to creep under the bar

Carlisle looked the better side and they got the reward for their forwardthinking approach when Parkes fizzed a fierce ball at Lambe as he took men on.

The wide man got it under control, and returned the favour, and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot as Max Byrne threw a leg out and chopped the marauding defender to the floor. Captain Danny Grainger made no mistake as he smashed the spot kick past Holy and into the back of the net.

The game tightened up after the equaliser and the best either side could muster ahead of the break was a weak long-range effort from Wagstaff which was dragged well wide of Bonham’s goal.

Gillingham showed first after the break with a long-range hopeful effort from Wagstaff, and the visitors survived huge appeals for a penalty when Wagstaff went down under pressure from Grainger and Jones.

The officials took an age to decide that the best they were giving the home side was a corner.

Another good break from a Carlisle corner gave Eaves plenty of options, but he hesitated and lost his bearings with a woeful shot which troubled the crowd more than it bothered the United goal.

The ball spent most of the half in the middle third of the pitch, as things remained finely balanced.

Fingernails were frantically bitten in both camps as the clock ticked down, but there was little quarter given in either half as Bennett and Byrne resorted to trying their luck from 30-yards plus for their respective sides as discipline was maintained and shape held.

Much of what was attempted was cancelled out and Gillingham resigned themselves to the mammoth trip up north as both sides took their place in tomorrow night’s third-round draw.