Late Eaves equaliser punishes former side
GILLINGHAM manager Steve Lovell hailed the impact of Tom Eaves after the substitute scored a late equaliser in the draw at Shrewsbury.
The striker, facing a club where he twice had loan spells earlier in his career, had the final word with a well-taken last-minute strike to leave the points shared.
“Tom makes an impact when he starts as well,” said Lovell. “It’s just sometimes that inconsistency.
“He brings us something different which the opposition centre-halves don’t like. I thought he took his goal really well, a really good finish and I’m pleased for him, really pleased.”
Lovell also praised the character his side showed to end a run of four league defeats in a row.
“At 2-1 down in the 87th minute, you’re thinking here we go again,” he said. “But the boys showed great character and great spirit and dug in and had a go and got the point.”
Ollie Norburn fired an early 20-yard shot straight at Gillingham goalkeeper Tomas Holy before the visitors made the breakthrough in the 18th minute.
Shrewsbury goalkeeper Joel Coleman was unable to hold on to a shot from Max Ehmer and when the ball broke free it was turned home by Brandon Hanlan.
Shrewsbury enjoyed plenty of possession but found chances hard to come by before the break.
Norburn’s shot was deflected just off target at the start of the second half before Shrewsbury equalised in the 59th minute, Lee Angol turning sharply to drill a shot to the far corner of the net.
Shrewsbury moved ahead in the 88th minute when Norburn converted a cross from Alex Gilliead.
But the late drama was still not over with Eaves breaking into the box with time almost up and drilling a low shot to the bottom corner of the net to leave the points shared. Being unable to hold on their advantage with time running out left manager John Askey frustrated.
“Disappointed, angry, all the emotions you would expect from doing so well to get ourselves back into the game and then to score late on,” he said. “It’s a game we should have won.
“It’s not through lack of ability, it’s not through tactics or anything like that. It just comes down to a bit of desire and that will to win and sadly, in that last minute, we were lacking.”