Jordan Graham nets his 13th goal of the season, but it's not enough to seal victory at Burton.
Steve Evans' side were held to their second draw in the space of a week as Ryan Broom’s late strike cancelled out Jordan Graham’s first half opener at the Pirelli Stadium in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The Gills, who were without Ryan Jackson and Robbie Cundy due to injury, started the game on the front foot and nearly opened the scoring in just the third minute as Connor Ogilvie’s header was brilliantly saved following an inch perfect corner-kick from Olly Lee to the near post.
The away side went close again with another corner soon after, this time whipped in from Tom O’Connor who found himself filling in at centre-back, his delivery just lacked a final touch to guide it towards goal despite an effort from top goalscorer, Vadaine Oliver.
Burton's first real opportunity came from a corner of their own, this was played short from Terry Taylor to Joe Powell whose shot was fired wide of Jack Bonham's left hand post. On 27 minutes Hayden Carter nearly got the opener, but on the stretch inside the box he couldn't divert a right footed effort past the Gills keeper.
Gillingham’s consistent attacking pressure did pay off in the 37th minute when Jack Bonham’s long goal-kick found Oliver whose flick on left Jordan Graham through on goal, leaving the winger to skip past Burton Albion stopper, Kieran O’Hara, and roll the ball into the back of the net for his 13th of the season.
Half-time: Burton Albion 0-1 Gillingham
Burton enjoyed a couple of early set plays which needed intervention from Bonham, but the Gills looked defensively solid in the opening exchanges of the second half.
And the visitors went close to doubling their lead in the 66th minute when captain, Kyle Dempsey, ventured on a solo run, beating three Burton Albion defenders before his shot struck teammate Oliver before spiralling away for a goal kick.
The captain’s effort encouraged the Gillingham team to come forward again just one minute later as Alex MacDonald’s cross just missed Oliver who was in prime position to nod home from ten yards out.
Towards the back end of the game Burton Albion piled the pressure on the Gills defence, with their best chance falling to sub Mike Fondop who produced a terrific save from Jack Bonham.
The hosts went for broke in the final minutes and found a way through in the final minute of normal time when a corner was only partially cleared and Broom, another sub, placed his right footed shot into the bottom right corner of the Gills goal. Bonham was at full stretch but couldn't get across.
Full-time: Burton Albion 1-1 Gillingham
Burton Albion: O’Hara, Brayford, Edwards (11’ Gallacher) (69’ Rowe), Powell (83’ Broom), Hemmings (69’ Fondop), Akins, Earl, Carter, Clare, Hamer, Taylor.
Unused substitutes: Barnes, O’Toole, Gilligan
Gillingham: Bonham, McKenzie, Tucker, O’Connor, Ogilvie, Graham, Dempsey, O’Keefe, MacDonald, Lee (74’ Samuel), Oliver (79’ Akinde).
Unused substitutes: Bastien, Willock, Johnson, Woods, Lintott
Referee: Mr B Toner