Neil Harris' men take a point back to Kent.
Gills came away from Hartlepool with a point as they drew 0-0 at the Suit Direct Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Neil Harris brought Scott Kashket back into the starting XI after he missed the defeat to Mansfield with a knock. Ryan Law was reintroduced as he replaced Haji Mnoga, who dropped to the bench. Will Wright replaced Elkan Baggott who was on international duty with Indonesia.
Will Wright almost gave Gillingham the lead in the 16th minute. He took a corner from the left which he curled towards the back post. It evaded everybody and looked like it might find its way into the back of the net. However, it went wide of the target as it left Ben Killip at full stretch as it went over his head.
Josh Umerah had a fantastic opportunity to give Hartlepool the lead in the 21st minute. Mikael Ndjoli latched onto a loose ball and managed to get beyond Wright. He crossed the ball to Umerah, who was at the front post. Fortunately, he could not hit the target from inside the six-yard box.
Hakeeb Adelakun had a half chance for Gillingham shortly afterwards. He did well to make his way inside towards the edge of the box, but his effort was high and wide of the target.
Ben Reeves had a good chance to score but was denied by a Hartlepool defender. Adelakun played a ball into the box, and Kashket headed it down to the Gills number 11. The midfielder tried to strike it with his left foot, but it was blocked by a defender as it went out for a corner.
The hosts almost took the lead as Wes McDonald’s cross caused Gillingham problems. He drilled it into the six-yard box as the ball pinballed around the penalty area before the danger subsided.
McDonald continued to cause Gills issues as he almost gave the hosts the lead in the final seconds of the first half. He cut inside on his right foot and managed to bend his shot towards the far corner. McDonald’s effort beat Glenn Morris, but not Law. The defender managed to get onto the goal line at the last possible moment to head clear.
HALF-TIME: Hartlepool United 0–0 Gillingham
Morris did well to deny Ndjoli after the hour. Reghan Tumilty curled a cross towards the penalty spot on the right, and Ndjoli directed a header goalward. The former Gills loanee was denied by Morris as he palmed it over the crossbar.
In the 69th minute, Callum Cooke had a good chance for the hosts. A long ball towards the Gillingham penalty area was headed away by Wright. It went as far as Cooke, who struck it on the volley. However, it went wide of the post as Morris was left untroubled.
Morris was called into action with five minutes remaining as he denied Clarke Oduor. The hosts played the ball up the pitch, and the final pass was played to the Hartlepool sub. He did well to get beyond a Gills defender before getting a shot away. Morris made his way out to close the angle as he denied the Hartlepool man.
FULL-TIME: Hartlepool United 0-0 Gillingham
Hartlepool United: Killip, Niang (Menayese 58’), Murray, Lacey (Oduor 68’), Ferguson, Tumilty, Sylla, Shelton, McDonald, Ndjoli (Hamilton 69’), Umerah (Cooke 55’)
Unused Substitutes: Letheren, Hastie, Grey
Gillingham: Morris, Adelakun (Green 79’), McKenzie, Ehmer, Wright, Law, Williams, O’Keefe (Alexander 83’), Reeves (MacDonald 70’), Kashket, Mandron
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Mnoga, Gbode, Walker
Referee: Neil Hair
Attendance: 4898 (223 Gillingham supporters)