Gillingham still haven't tasted defeat at Priestfield to arch rivals Millwall since November 1997 after this latest derby match.

Neither keeper was really tested throughout the 90 minutes and it therefore came as little surprise that the match finished goalless. Gillingham probably came the closest to winning it though, especially as Kevin Muscat nearly put through his own net.

Gillingham were dealt a problem before the match had even kicked off. Keeper Jason Brown had been named in the starting line up, although he sustained injury in the warm up and was unable to take his place, which paved the way for Steve Banks to return between the sticks.

Gills conjured up the first attempt on goal in the third minute when Nicky Southall headed across from the right; Darius Henderson nodded back to Michael Flynn in the box and his first contribution on his home debut saw a deflected shot held by Andy Marshall.

Seven minutes later Crofts made a run, following a Southall corner from the right, and his close range header deflected over for a second corner, from which Henderson was penalized for a foul after testing Marshall with a header.

Millwall's first offering came after quarter if an hour when Josh Simpson headed off target, after Alan Dunne's right wing cross, before the Lions front pairing of Danny Dichio and Scott Dobie combined to set up Dunne whose low shot, from just outside the box, went just wide of Banks's left hand post.

Ian Cox, in a central position in the box, then slid in to direct the ball to Henderson, but his left foot shot, from the left, lacked the accuracy required to trouble Marshall.

Gills were given a scare on 53 minutes when substitute Adrian Serioux delivered a low right wing cross to Dichio who, in turn, fed Dobie. He chipped the ball over Banks from close range, but it didn't go over the line as Nyron Nosworthy was there to clear.

Richard Rose then had to emulate Nosworthy, clearing off the line after David Livermore's right wing corner had curled towards the back post.

Kevin Muscat then floated a long free kick into the box and Banks sprang into action to pull off a superb point blank range to foil Dobie. It wouldn't have counted though as the whistle had gone, but Banks wouldn't have known that.

Gills broke forward, on 74 minutes, and Paul Smith's shot deflected into Southall's path, in the box on the right. He let fly with a good strike, from a tight angle, which Muscat managed to stop inches from the line, although as he attempted to cut the ball out he was nearly embarrassed as the ball struck Marshall's left hand post.

With four minutes remaining, Crofts cut in from the left flank and laid the ball into Southall's feet in the box with his back to goal. He rolled the ball into Flynn's path, who would have capped his home debut with a goal, had Marshall not pulled off a fine save.

On the stroke of full time, Gills teenage substitute Matt Jarvis, who would have wanted to prove a point after being released by the Lions as a youngster, left two defenders for dead on the left and set up Flynn. His shot came back out to Jarvis, but a potential fairytale ending was dashed as he shot well wide.

During the first half Dennis Wise was on his mobile phone from the directors box to Ray Wilkins in the dug out. Perhaps at the end he sent him a text message posing the question: "How long will we have to wait before we beat Gillingham at Priestfield again?" Gills fans will be hoping it'll be a while longer yet.

Gillingham: Banks; Nosworthy; Rose (Jarvis 71); Smith; Cox; Ashby; Southall; Flynn; Byfield (Roberts 64); Henderson; Crofts. Subs not used - Bossu; Hills; Pouton.

Millwall: Marshall; Muscat; Simpson (Serioux 45); Livermore; Ward; Lawrence; Dunne (Hayles 79); Morris; Dobie; Dichio; Elliott. Subs not used - Weston; Wise; Phillips.

Bookings: Cox; Southall (Gillingham); Livermore; Morris; Serioux; Dunne (Millwall)

Attendance: 9,127

Referee: Mr Andy D'Urso

Report by: Adam Scally