Carlisle United's promotion push has stumbled somewhat thanks to a 0-0 draw here at KRBS Priestfield. It was a dogged performance from the Gills, far removed from the lethargy witnessed earlier this month. The Cumbrians, whose away form has been their downfall this year, were, for most of the game, hounded off of the ball and closed down by the Gills in numbers.The afternoon could have been made sweeter had striker Simeon Jackson's brilliant long range effort snuck under the bar instead of smashing against it.

Gillingham, knowing that a result was needed today to keep in touching distance of Crewe, had to soak up some early United pressure when Simon Hackney's third minute shot, inside the area, had to be cleared off the line by Simon King. However, the header did get enough distance and it was flung back in by Carlisle until Nicky Southall eventually cleared it to safety.

But, apart from the Cumbrians' early bravado, it was the Gills who dominated much of the first half. It was not pretty, with long balls making up much of the pass percentages, but the Gills refused to make it comfortable for their opponents. Jackson, in particular, was a real handful and his first chance of the afternoon fell in the fifth minute when he was put through by Adam Miller, but he was on the angle and his shot was weak.

Then, on 12, Jackson was picked out by Miller again, this time with a cross. The miniature forward found himself all alone in the area but he could not direct his glancing header any better and keeper Keiren Westwood made a straight forward save low down to his right.

A minute later and the Gills attacked again. Long-term absentee, Nicky Southall, was fed the ball wide on the right, cut in onto his left foot and struck a rasping 20 yard drive that flew high and wide.

Carlisle were really struggling to get a foothold in the game. Everytime they had the ball, they were immediately closed down by two or three blue shirts. But they managed to forge a decent chance in the 24th minute when Hackney unleased a vicious drive that took a deflection off of Garry Richards. The ball swung horribly and it forced keeper Derek Stillie to change his position in mid-air, but he managed to get a forearm to it and push it to safety.

It was to be Carlisle's best chance of the half, but the Gills continued to push in search of the opener. On 33, the entire Priestfield crowd had their heads in the hands as the ball ran inches wide of the far post. An outswinging corner from Southall was aimed at the penalty spot and to the domineering figures of Garry Richards and Danny Cullip. Both went for it and, as it appears both won it but the ball crept past the outside of the post for a goal kick.

Sixty seconds later, John Nutter came close when he picked the ball up from a knock down, his touch took him past his marker and he unleased a decent drive at goal. However, the flying body of the Carlisle defender who had thrown himself at it, took the sting out of the ball and Westwood gathered comfortably.

Then, Southall - whose crosses were adding something extra to the Gillingham play - penetrated Carlisle United's defence and skipper Andrew Crofts met it with a late run. However, the ball was a little too high and Crofts could not keep his effort from going over the bar.

The action went from boiling point to a mere simmer, as the first half slipped away with barely more than a whimper. And it was true for the opening ten minutes of the second half, until Grant Smith woke everyone up to the fact that the scores were only 0-0 and a solitary goal could seal it for either side. His long range effort skipped past the right hand post and, at the same time, sparked the Gills into life.

A mere minute later and Nicky Southall was next to come close. The ball popped out to him, he controlled it on his chest and struck a decent volley that took a deflection off of a defender for a corner. The roar of support from the crowd was inspiring and they were almost rewarded in the 56th minute when Jackson could have won it for the Gills. From the corner the ball was cleared out to the left hand by-line where Adam Miller flicked it to Jackson, who turned and shot from 25 yards without any warning. The ball swerved, dipped, rised and bent all of the way until a slight gust of wind diverted it from its apparent destination of the top right hand corner of the net and pushed it up onto the bar. It was a fantastic effort and one that could so easily have changed the Gills fortunes.

Jackson was again close to getting his second goal of the season in the 75th minute when he finished off an decent Gills move. Nutter picked the ball up on the left wing and found Miller with a quick pass. Miller took it forward and then fed it into Jackson, who had made a clever run in behind the defence, but his shot flew over the bar.

Carlisle fans had to wait until the 85th minute for their best chance when midfielder Grant Smith snapped a left-footed volley just wide. The ball dipped vicously and most would have been forgiven of expecting to see the net bulge but, fortunately, the ball skipped past Stillie's far post. They had a last chance in the third minute of added time when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson had a speculative volley go over the bar, but it was a typical United effort from a very ordinary United performance.

Gillingham, on the other hand, were dogged, resistant, full of heart and, at times, extremeley dangerous but had you asked any Gills fan if they would take a point before three o'clock, most would have accepted it there and then. Point being that it was a decent result for the Gills against a team that are second in the league and looking certain for promotion. This 0-0 draw will set the Gills up nicely for Tuesday night when Luton Town are visitors to KRBS Priestfield. To book your tickets pleas call the GFC Ticket Office on 01634 350350.

Goalkeeper Simon Royce remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury, Nicky Southall returns after a lengthy absence. Skipper Andrew Crofts is back after an illness kept him out at Port Vale, while Danny Cullip returns to the heart of the defence.

Gillingham: 22 Derek Stillie; 37 Garry Richards; 4 Danny Cullip; 5 Simon King; 11 Nicky Southall; 35 John Nutter; 8 Mark Bentley; 7 Andrew Crofts (Captain); 36 Adam Miller; 28 Dennis Oli; 20 Simeon Jackson.

Substitutes: 13 Chris Kiely; 18 Craig Stone; 21 Luis Cumbers; 38 Barry Fuller

30 Leroy Griffiths on for Miller (78)

Carlisle United: 1 Keiren Westwood; 2 David Raven; 4 Marc Bridge-Wilkinson; 5 Danny Livesy (Captain); 6 Peter Murphy; 8 Chris Lumsdon; 9 Danny Graham; 18 Simon Hackney; 21 Evan Horwood; 25 Grant Smith; 27 Cleveland Taylor

Substitutes: 20 Chris Howarth; 12 Luke Joyce; 15 Paul Arnison; 

26 Scott Dobie on for Graham (73)

10 Danny Carlton on for Taylor (77)