A stoppage time penalty from Dean Rance earned the Gills a draw from Saturday mornings Puma Youth Alliance League Cup game with Northampton at Beechings Cross, writes Richard Day.

Having taken an early lead, the Gills were forced onto the back-foot in a competitive battle that saw six yellow cards and a late red and in the end they were made to come from behind to remain unbeaten in this season's competition.

Mark Patterson's side went ahead in the eighth minute with a neatly worked goal. Tom Brunt played a great ball wide to Liam Geering, who controlled before laying the ball back to Ollie Bartrum. The right-back sent over a great cross towards the near post where Charlie Stimson rose to power home a fine header.

The visitors hit back strongly with Luke Cray glancing a header wide and Alex Konstantinou striking Conor Quinn's left-hand post with a rasping drive, then Cray again put another header over the top.

Geering had the chance to increase the Gills lead in the 28^th minute, running onto Stimson's pass, but his angled effort was blocked by Paul Walker at close range.

Two minutes later the Cobblers equalized. The Gillingham defence failed to clear as Mark Withers broke forward and then as Callum Davies looked to get the ball away it hit central defensive partner Connor Essam, the ball breaking loose to Tom McGowan who drilled a shot under Quinn.

Essam got his name in the referee's notebook for a lunge on Michael Jacobs but was then in the right place to clear from in front of goal following a dangerous ball from the the same player.

Apart from a rising shot from Murphy, the Gills created little up front in the second-half, that said neither did the visitors, as a dogged midfield battle ensued. That was until Town struck with just seven minutes remaining.

A long throw wasn't cleared and the ball was played out to Tom McBride around 20-yards out. He cut the ball back onto his left-foot before striking a curling effort that flew past Quinn.

To their credit the Gills kept going and Rance drilled a low shot wide before he was involved in winning the stoppage time penalty. As a cross came over Northampton skipper Cray held the Gills midfielder down and referee Tweed, who had a good game, had a perfect view and rightly pointed to the spot. It was Rance himself who sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Town winger Jacobs who talked himself into the book after the goal obviously isn't a quick learner because just moments later he saw red after a second caution for something he said to one of the referee's assistants.