by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham had to settle for a point during a frustrating afternoon at Priestfield on Saturday.

The Gills were behind early in the second half but had new signing Adebayo Akinfenwa to thank for rescuing them a point.

Gillingham caused plenty of problems in the Cheltenham defence in the first half but were unable to get the vital goal.

Andy Barcham teed up the first chance of the match but Curtis Weston fired narrowly over from 20 yards.

Barcham then went close himself moments after, with 19 minutes gone, when he beat Danny Andrew in the box but the keeper saved.

Just before the break Jack Payne had a long range effort that went safely into the keeper’s hands after taking a deflection off defender Steve Elliott.

Cheltenham stunned the home fans when Keith Lowe’s deep free-kick found Thomas in the box and he fired in low past Julian with eight second half minutes gone.

The Gills were level with 76 minutes gone when Jack Payne’s throw was met by Akinfenwa and his flick eluded keeper Brown and nestled in the back of the net.

Gills: Julian, Sinclair, Nutter, Bentley, Gowling, J Payne, Weston, Spiller, Palmer (Akinfenwa 54mins), S Payne (Rooney 64mins) Barcham. Subs: Maher, McCammon, Jackman, Essam, Cronin.

Cheltenham: Brown, Riley, Andrew, Lowe, Elliott, Thomas (Bird 71mins) Pook, Low, Smikle, Artus (Melligan 90mins), Goulding (Jeffers 85mins). Subs: Lloyd-Weston, Shroot, Gallinagh, Bird, Watkins.

Attendance: 5,655

• See also - Hess: "We were reluctant to take that final shot"
• In pictures: Gillingham v Cheltenham
• Relive the action with Kent Online's live text commentary