Elliott Nevitt came off the bench to earn Gillingham a point, as they came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Shrewsbury Town at Croud Meadow.
The hosts raced into a two-goal lead through George Lloyd and Luca Hoole, before Seb Palmer-Houlden pulled a goal back for Gillingham. However, Lloyd doubled his tally on the stroke of half-time to restore Shrewsbury’s two-goal advantage with a low drive from a tight angle.
Gillingham got back into the game from the penalty spot after 66 minutes. Josh Andrews was hauled down inside the box after Bradley Dack had curled a corner into the area, and Robbie McKenzie kept his cool to strike his spot kick into the right side of the net.
Nevitt equalised with four minutes remaining, as he met Garath McCleary’s cross from the right with a diving header, which he guided towards the top corner and past Will Brook.
Gareth Ainsworth made one change to the starting XI following the 1-1 home draw against Barnet, as Sam Vokes came into the side, replacing Aaron Rowe, who dropped to the bench.
Elliott Nevitt was fit enough to be named among the substitutes, and Lenni Cirino was also on the bench.
Shrewsbury had a good opportunity in the ninth minute. They were awarded an indirect free-kick after the referee believed that the ball had been passed back to Jake Turner after he picked up a loose ball. It was lofted towards the back post in the direction of Tom Anderson, who headed goalward. It ricocheted around the six-yard box until the ball was cleared out for a throw.
From the resulting throw, the hosts took the lead. Sam Stubbs’ long throw was flicked on towards Anthony Scully, who stabbed it goalward. The ball deflected off George Lloyd, who changed the direction of the ball, and it trickled into the bottom corner. There were appeals by the Gillingham players after it appeared the ball was flicked on by the hand of a Shrewsbury player, but the referee awarded the goal.
Gills responded well, applying pressure on the Shrewsbury goal. Garath McCleary’s cross from the right found Vokes at the back post, who headed it back across the goal. It found Seb Palmer-Houlden, who could not make clear contact with his header due to the pressure from a defender, as the ball was eventually cleared.
Robbie McKenzie came close soon after. Remeao Hutton’s long throw was cleared as far as McKenzie, who chested it down before volleying goalward. It flew just wide of the goal, rattling the stanchion behind it.
In the 21st minute, Anderson fired wide. Gills could not clear a cross into the box from the left, which then bounced for Anderson, who smashed a first-time effort goalward. Fortunately, he blazed it high and wide of the target.
Luca Hoole made it two soon after. He rose the highest to win a header, which he then got on the end of before carrying it towards the penalty area. Hoole took it down the right side of the box before firing a shot across goal and into the far corner of the net.
Gills were forced into a first substitution after 27 minutes, as Josh Andrews replaced Vokes, who could not continue due to injury.
Palmer-Houlden pulled a goal back in the 37th minute. McCleary had the ball on the right wing and got beyond his man before curling a cross towards the six-yard box. It found Palmer-Houlden, who headed towards the top right corner of the net. The ball was on target, and despite the best efforts of Will Boyle to head it off the line, he could only help it onto the underside of the crossbar as it went into the goal.
Lloyd scored his second, restoring Shrewsbury’s two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time. The hosts won possession just inside the Gillingham half and broke forward. Scully played it to Lloyd, who took it on before shooting from a tight angle, striking the ball into the far bottom corner of the net.
Turner had to be alert to stop Lloyd from completing his hat-trick. Ismeal Kabia carried the ball forward down the right wing before delivering a cross, which was met by the diving header of the forward. Fortunately, Turner got across to gather.
HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 3-1 Gillingham
Andrews had a good chance shortly after half-time. Sam Gale’s long ball forward saw a collision on the edge of the Shrewsbury penalty area, which allowed the forward to pick up the loose ball. Unfortunately, he sent his first-time shot wide of the goal.
In the 54th minute, Max Clark tried his luck from 25 yards when he received the ball with time and space. However, his left-footed attempt flew over the crossbar.
Palmer-Houlden had a half-chance after McCleary’s testing cross. It was high and looping, which Will Brook could not gather. It came out to the forward, who was unable to make clear contact with the ball, as he sent it wide of the target.
On the hour, Gillingham made a double substitution, with Nelson Khumbeni and Cirino replacing Jonny Williams and Max Clark respectively.
In the 64th minute, Gills were awarded a penalty. The visitors had a corner, which Bradley Dack curled towards the back post. However, as the ball was put into play, Andrews was dragged to the ground, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
From the resulting spot kick, McKenzie halved the deficit. He kept his cool, having been made to reposition the ball, sending it into the right corner of the net as Brook went the opposite way.
Palmer-Houlden got a shot away after brilliant work by Hutton. The right-back held off a Shrewsbury player before lofting a ball over the top, which Andrews chested down. Palmer-Houlden took it on before shooting, but his attempt was sliced high and wide of the goal.
Gills made their final substitution, with Nevitt replacing Palmer Houlden with eight minutes remaining.
Four minutes after coming on, Nevitt brought Gillingham back on level terms. The ball was played out to McCleary on the right, who then sent a cross towards the penalty spot. Nevitt came flying across, directing a diving header past Brook and into the back of the net.
Gills pushed forward for a late winner, but could not muster that final opportunity, as they came away with a hard-fought point.
FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 3-3 Gillingham
Shrewsbury Town: Brook, Anderson, Boyle, Stubbs, Hoole, England, Ruffels, Clucas, Kabia (Marquis 74’), Scully (Aneke 74’), Lloyd
Unused Substitutes: Harrison, Benning, McDermott, Sang, Perry
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Gale, McKenzie, Clark (Cirino 60’), Coleman, J. Williams (Khumbeni 60’), McCleary, Dack, Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt 82’), Vokes (Andrews 27’)
Unused Substitutes: Holtam, Akomeah, Rowe
Referee: Aaron Farmer
Attendance: 5217 (484)
