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Gills forced to share the spoils at New Den

Southall bagged his first goal for the club since April 2005 picture: Matthew Walker
Southall bagged his first goal for the club since April 2005 picture: Matthew Walker

Millwall 1 Gillingham 1

A Nicky Southall free-kick mid way through the first half looked like giving Gillingham a vital three points in their crunch League One clash with fellow strugglers Millwall at the New Den.

But Mark Stimson's men were forced to settle for a draw, after Lions captain Paul Robinson's effort 15 minutes from time, gave Millwall a share of the points.

The result leaves Gillingham still inside the bottom four on goal difference, after Crewe Alexandra lost 3-1 at home to Southend United.

On 25 minutes, Southall struck from 20 yards, sneaking a free-kick into the top left corner past Millwall keeper Rhys Evans.

Gills keeper Derek Stillie was kept busy in both halves by the home side, tipping a Danny Senda effort round the post on the stroke of half time.

He was also forced into making three saves inside the first 20 minutes, twice from Lions' midfielder Ahmet Brkovic and another from former Gills' striker Neil Harris.

But Brkovic missed a glorious chance at the start of the second half, as he spurned an open goal from three yards.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson was pleased with the point as his side moved ever closer to safety.

He said: �Over the 90 minutes a point is what we deserved. We came up against a team who played on the front foot at home with the vocal backing of their supporters. Our supporters did their best to match them and I think we did.

�We scored an outstanding goal which wouldn�t have looked out of place in the Premier League and we defended well as they put us under pressure and when the lad Brkovic missed his header I thought it was going to be our day but it wasn�t to be.

�We didn�t get three points but we would have taken one before today�s game.�

Gillingham: Stillie, Southall, King, Cullip, Richards, Fuller, Crofts, Bentley, Miller (Griffiths 46mins), Jackson, Oli (Ba 46mins). Subs not used: Kiely, Simmonds, Maher. Attendance: 10,096

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