SAM'S A PEN PAL

Vokes takes heat off spot-kick hero Max

- IVAN SPECK

INTERNATIONAL weekends for Sam Vokes used to mean time away with the Wales squad qualifying for European Championships.

The 35-year-old came on as a second-half substitute in the tree-lined setting of Hayes Lanes tasked with keeping Gillingham at the top of League Two.

When his side, 2-1 down, were awarded an injury-time penalty, which was delayed because of lengthy treatment required by Bromley keeper Grant Smith, Vokes knew what to do - and it wasn't to take the penalty himself.

Instead, he grabbed the ball, played the decoy perfectly and took the heat off a grateful Max Clark, who eventually converted the spot-kick to earn his side a draw.