Gareth Ainsworth hailed the potential of Chelsea teenager Jimmy-Jay Morgan after his goal in Gillingham’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham.
Morgan finished neatly after a clever free-kick from Jack Nolan in the second minute, giving him the second goal of his loan spell with the Gills.
“It was a really clever free-kick from Jack, setting up Jimmy and what a great finish,” Ainsworth said.
“He’s a super player and a super young man. I’m sure he’s going to be a hell of a player when he’s older.”
Cheltenham levelled through Sam Stubbs’ 22nd-minute header and the mid-table battle finished all-square, but Ainsworth saw encouraging signs from his new team who have not lost in nine – six of them under their recently-appointed manager’s leadership.
“I knew what Cheltenham were going to be because Mike Flynn’s teams are organised, big and strong,” Ainsworth said. “They get the ball forward, set pieces and all the things we mentioned before the game.
“With the wind factor in there as well it was scrappy first half, but we started really well.
“After that we gave too many fouls away and they were clever. They stuck the ball in the box and it was a set piece they scored from, but they worked it well so you have to give them credit.
“We had the best chances of the second half and we restricted Cheltenham in terms of chances. We were close, but I’m excited with a lot of what I’ve seen and the way we can play.”
After their early breakthrough, Joe Day had to keep out a low shot from Elliott Nevitt and Conor Masterson headed wide from a good position as Gillingham pushed for a second.
But Cheltenham improved, with Arkell Jude-Boyd drawing a save from Taite Holtam.
They levelled when Ryan Haynes’ free-kick was nodded in by Stubbs.
Sam Gale had the ball in the net for Gillingham after a scramble just before half-time, but it was disallowed for handball in the box, which both Ainsworth and Robins boss Flynn admitted was dubious.
Day blocked from Morgan at his near post early in the second half and Tommy Backwell volleyed wide for Cheltenham.
Ethan Williams forced Holtam into a diving save before Day made a fine reaction save from Masterson at the other end as it finished in stalemate.
Former Gills midfielder Flynn felt his side looked the more likely winners.
“I don’t think there was much wrong with the goal they had disallowed, but I feel we should have had a penalty late on for a foul on Ash Hay,” Flynn said.
“After the first seven or eight minutes, in the first half we were excellent. We put ball after ball into the box, we were just missing that killer instinct.
“We started well second half but huffed and puffed a bit at the end.
“You could say it’s a good point, but after that first-half display we were the team who looked most likely to go on and get a winner.”
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