A brilliant 84th minute strike from Rovers' defender Steve Elliot denied Gillingham a vital away win at the Memorial Ground. Mark Stimson's men had led from the 38th minute when left-back John Nutter had rose highest in a crowded box to nod home from close range.

However, before the Gills had taken the lead, they had to soak up a lot of pressure in the opening half hour as Rovers settled into the match quicker and carved their first chance after three minutes. Midfielder, David Pipe, was put through down the right hand side from a slide rule pass and his low and dangerous cross was inches away from the outstretched boot of striker Danny Lambert.

Five minutes later and they again came close. Stuart Campbell connected with a weak Nutter clearance, but his effort flew high and wide.

Just before the quarter-of-an-hour mark and Rovers could have taken the lead had it not been for the outstretched hand of Gills keeper Derek Stillie. Lambert connected with a decent Pipe cross, six yards out, but the ball was brilliantly clawed to safety by the Gillingham shot-stopper.

Stillie was again called into action just before the half hour mark, when he again tipped a Lambert header onto the bar. The tall Rovers forward was causing all sorts of problems in the Gills defence but could not find a way past Stillie.

Gillingham created their first chance of the half just a minute later when Simeon Jackson latched onto the ball just inside the box, but his volley was tame and it rolled into the arms of the Rovers' keeper.

However, the effort marked the beginning of some late Gillingham pressure and further chances were created in the closing stages of the first half. On 33, Georges Ba, making his full Gillingham debut, headed the ball against the bar from a Nicky Southall cross. The commanding Ivory Coast striker did well to manoeuvre himself for the effort as the ball was travelling behind him.

Buoyed by their first chances of the match, the Gills set about playing some decent football and Southall finished off their best move of the match, of neat one-touch football, with a dragged shot wide. But it was soon not to matter as the Gills favourite worked himself some space on the far channel and put in a deep left-footed cross, which Nutter duly converted. It was the left-back's first goal for Gillingham and you could see how much it meant to him as he reeled away in ecstatic celebration.

As the half came to a close both teams drew decent saves from the goalkeepers. Midfielder Stuart Lewis, stepping in for an injured Adam Miller, had a fizzing low drive well saved and skipper Andrew Crofts saw his header fly into the arms of Phillips.

Rovers' last chance fell to Campbell, whose low 25 yard drive was saved well by Stillie.

Gillingham came out into the second half primed and they set about early in their search of a second goal. Jackson gave Gillingham first blood when he did well to make himself some space 20 yards out, but his effort flew straight into the keepers' arms.

Rovers responded and should have restored parity just after the hour mark when Danny Lambert had a shot saved by Stillie from all of six yards. The ball had fallen to the striker from a brilliant Campbell free kick but it seemed to stick under his feet as he pulled the trigger.

The home fans were beginning to show their frustration at their teams' apparent inability to convert their chances and things were not helped when Byron Anthony missed from an even closer position than Lambert - two yards out to be exact. A cross in from the right skipped all the way through the six yards box, Anthony threw himself at it but Garry Richards did just enough to put him off and the Rovers' midfielder headed wide.

Gillingham rallied and began to show glimpses of the football they played against Swansea the week before, working it nicely around the midfield with crisp one-touch passes. But it was Southall, making some dangerous runs down his right flank, who seemed to be the most likely to make things happen for Mark Stimson's side. On 78 minutes his good work deep in the Rovers half, taking it round the defender with a deft touch and then pulling the ball back to Maher whose shot was dragged wide.

However, the Gills were left to rue their missed chances in the 84th minute when defender Steve Roberts provided that something special to restore parity. When the ball dropped to him 30 yards out from goal, instead of controlling it and playing it wide, he hit it on the volley and watched it as it rocketed past Stillie. The Gillingham shot-stopper could do nothing as it flew past him and into the top right hand corner.

As the minutes ebbed away Gillingham carved out two decent chances with substitutes Gary Mulligan and Leroy Griffiths both coming close. Mulligan was the first to come close as he latched onto a long throw that was allowed to bounce in the box but he got a little too much on it and it floated harmlessly over the bar. Griffiths then had his head in his hands when space opened up for him to shoot on the edge of the box, but his left-footed strike was dragged wide.

The draw sets the Gills up nicely for their next League One fixture when Swindon Town are visitors to KRBS Priestfield next Saturday. To book your tickets please call our GFC Ticket Office on 01634 300 000.

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Gillingham: 22. Derek Stillie, 37. Garry Richards, 4. Danny Cullip, 5. Simon King, 11. Nicky Southall, 35. John Nutter, 27. Kevin Maher, 7. Andrew Crofts, 39. Stuart Lewis, 24. Georges Ba, 20. Simeon Jackson.

Subs: 13. Chris Kiely, 2. Donovan Simmonds, 9. Gary Mulligan, 19. Sean Clohessy, 30. Leroy Griffiths.