Gills unable to find a way through at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Gillingham were held to goalless draw against Shrewsbury at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Connor Ogilvie and Vadaine Oliver came closest to finding a goal, but the defender struck the inside of the post while the in-form striker fired just wide in the second half following Dom Samuel's chest down.
Steve Evans made one change following the defeat to Blackpool on Easter Monday. Robbie Cundy returned from injury and took his place alongside Jack Tucker in the centre of defence, with Tommy O’Connor dropping to the bench.
Vadaine Oliver had a half-chance in the fifth minute. Jordan Graham’s low cross into the box evaded everybody, and Oliver snuck round the back unnoticed. Unfortunately, he could not make clear contact with the effort, and Matija Sarkic claimed the loose ball.
In the tenth minute, Connor Ogilvie tested Sarkic. Ryan Jackson went short with his throw, and Kyle Dempsey played it back to him. Jackson’s cross towards the six-yard box was a good one, but Ogilvie’s header was caught by the Shrewsbury keeper.
Dempsey had a free-kick from 20 yards out, which was saved by Sarkic. Oliver was fouled following a long ball forward, and the Gills skipper stepped up to take it. His shot was a low drilled one that was straight at the visiting goalkeeper.
Shaun Whalley came close to giving Shrewsbury the lead in the 32nd minute. The visitors did really well to work the ball into the box, and Daniel Udoh played it out to Whalley. The forward looked destined to slot the ball into the bottom corner until a little touch put the ball wide of the post.
Jack Bonham was called into action moments later as he had to push Udoh’s shot away from danger.
Graham had a free-kick from 25 yards out go over the crossbar in the 44th minute. His curling effort aimed for the top left corner had too much height on it and left Sarkic untroubled.
Ogilvie went close to scoring on the stroke of half-time. Jackson’s long throw fell to the defender who poked the ball towards the goal. It hit the inside of the post before being deflected out for a corner, which came to nothing.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
Josh Vela had the first real chance of the second half. He drilled a low shot towards the near post, and Bonham did well to get down low and get a solid hand on it before claiming the loose ball.
Ogilvie came close again in the 58th minute. Jackson’s long throw was met by the head of the defender, but his looping effort landed on top of the roof of the net.
Donald Love had a huge chance to give Shrewsbury the lead ten minutes from time. The visitors capitalised from a wayward kick and counter-attacked. The ball into the area was met by Love, but he skied it over the bar.
Nathaniel Ogbeta was the next man to try his luck. The visitors switched the play and attacked the left-hand side. Ogbeta had some space from distance and shot, but his effort flashed wide of Bonham’s left post.
Oliver came close to giving Gillingham the lead six minutes from time. A long ball forward was headed into the path of Dominic Samuel. Samuel chested it down for Oliver, who struck it first time, but it fizzed wide of Sarkic’s post.
Harry Chapman came close to a late winner. The visitors were able to counter-attack, and Chapman tried his luck. His effort took a big deflection on its way towards the goal and bounced just wide of Bonham’s post.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
Gillingham: Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Cundy, Ogilvie, Graham, Dempsey, O’Keefe (McKenzie 46’), MacDonald (Lee 79’), Akinde (Samuel 46’), Oliver
Unused Substitutes: Bastien, Willock, Johnson, O’Connor
Shrewsbury Town: Sarkic, Love, Williams, Ebanks-Landell, Pennington, Ogbeta, Vela, Norburn, Goss (Edwards 88’), Whalley (Chapman 86’), Udoh (Main 86’)
Unused Substitutes: Burgoyne, Edwards, Pyke, Sears, Davis
Referee: Trevor Kettle