Adedeji Oshilaja's second goal of the season not enough to give the Gills victory against struggling Peterborough United at the Abax Stadium
Gillingham remain unbeaten in League One despite being denied a hard-fought victory late on against Peterborough United.Adedeji Oshilaja's 85th minute goal looked like earning the Gills all three points, but Jon Taylor's stoppage time equaliser earned the Posh a point.
The Gills were unchanged from last Saturday's victory against Wigan Athletic, and having made a key save in that game, Stuart Nelson was again on hand to importantly thwart Conor Washington in the opening 45 seconds.
A brilliant Brennan Dickenson challenge prevented Washington from slotting home an opener for the hosts on three minutes, as the Posh began well.
John Egan had the Gills' first chance, but saw his flicked header from Ryan Jackson's throw parried by Ben Alnwick. The home goalkeeper also denied Jordan Houghton after he combined brilliantly with Jackson after 17 minutes.
The trio linked up again shortly after, as the latter's throw found the unmarked loanee in the box, who volleyed agonisingly wide of the post from 12 yards.
Peterborough ended the half well, as Kyle Vassell's dangerous cross just eluded a couple of his on-rushing team-mates, and Josh Wright blocked the increasingly-influential Taylor's speculative effort.
H/T: 0-0
Houghton was replaced at half time by Emmanuel Osadebe, who returned from picking up a knock in the season opener against Sheffield United.
Bradley Dack and Luke Norris had early half chances for the Gills, with Marcus Maddison coming closest in the opening minutes for the hosts from close range.
The Gills increased the pressure on out-of-form Posh for the next 10 minutes, as Dack had a volley from the edge of the box deflected wide, and Jake Hessenthaler headed just over from Jackson's chipped cross.
But against the run of play, substitute Souleymane Coulibaly should have put the hosts ahead on 67 minutes. Unmarked at the back post, he ran onto Maddison's inswinging free-kick, but Nelson somehow saved with his feet to keep the game goalless.
Norris came equally as close on 70 when his swerving free-kick from the edge of the box hit the bar.
Osadebe had Alnwick sprawling with a low 75th-minute effort that was't far away from creeping in, Norris fired over at the end of a quick Gills break but was unable to get a second free-kick from a similar position to his previous attempt into the top corner.
Nelson tipped Maddison's on-target free-kick over in the 81st minute, before the Gills had another great chance. Jackson's deep cross was kept alive by Loft, but Norris could only head against the post with the goal at his mercy.
The Gills' pressure eventually paid off, as the opening goal came five minutes from time. Dack crossed into the box, Norris kept the ball alive and Oshilaja bundled in at the back post.
Posh hit the bar through Vassell on 88 minutes, before Taylor got on the end of Stuart Nelson's parry following Maddison's cross for the simplest of equalisers.
The Gills entertain Doncaster Rovers at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium next Saturday, the first of back-to-back home games.
F/T: 1-1
Peterborough: Alnwick, Davey, Santos, Bostwick, Elder, Taylor, Collison (Adebayo-Rowling 77), J Anderson, Maddison, Vassell, Washington (Coulibaly 64)
Unused subs: Henry, Brisley, Anderson, Adebayo-Rowling, Angol, Coulibaly, Gormley
Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson, Egan, Oshilaja, Dickenson, Hessenthaler (Loft 62), Dack, Wright, Houghton (Osadebe 45), Donnelly (McDonald 82), Norris.
Unused subs: G Morris, Ehmer, McGlashan, Williamson.
Attendance: 5, 083
Referee: Mr K Stroud