Gillingham 1 Cardiff 1

AN 85th minute equaliser by Cardiff’s Paul Parry at Priestfield on Saturday means that Gillingham’s battle to avoid the drop will go to the final weekend of the season.

Parry rose to head home a Neil Ardley cross and silence the Priestfield crowd.

Gills’ point, and a heavy defeat for Crewe at Ipswich, means that Stan Ternent’s side sit two points above the relegation zone with one game to play.

Gillingham thought they had secured their Championship survival when substitute Matt Jarvis put them ahead with 19 minutes to go.

Jarvis had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes when he was played in by the influential Mamady Sidibe and his left-foot shot squirmed underneath Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander and into the net, with Nicky Southall following up to make sure.

Gillingham started the better of the two sides and Darius Henderson saw his header superbly tipped over the bar by Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander after 10 minutes.

Before that, though, the recalled Barry Ashby was relieved to see his defensive header come back off his own crossbar.

The visitors stepped up the pressure, although they failed to create any clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Henderson and Jonathan Douglas both hit weak free kicks straight into the wall when they should have done better.

Cardiff almost took the lead after 64 minutes when Jobi McAnuff capitalised on a Jay McEveley mistake, but he went for power rather than accuracy with his shot and failed to work Jason Brown.

Darren Byfield had a fantastic chance to put Gills ahead within a minute of coming on as a replacement for Henderson, but his glancing header went wide.

Two minutes later Sidibe saaw his header from a Southall corner saved by Alexander.

One positive Gillingham can take is that Nottingham Forest’s defeat at QPR means that next Sunday’s opponents are already relegated.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Ashby, Cox, McEveley, Southall, Smith, Flynn (Jarvis 61), Douglas, Sidibe, Henderson (Byfield 67). Subs Not Used: Banks, Hope, Crofts.

* Listen to Gillingham assistant manager Ronnie Jepson speaking after the game to kmfm sports editor Simon Watts...