Oli Hawkins was thrilled to have scored Gillingham’s injury-time equaliser at Bradford - even more so after receiving stick before coming off the bench.

The big striker netted in the seventh of the eight minutes of stoppage-time at Valley Parade to hush a big crowd who had seen their side fight back from a goal down. A point did Bradford’s automatic promotion hopes no favours.

Gills forward makes Football League debut

“It was a good feeling,” said the 31-year-old, who had extra hunger in his belly after getting some stick. “A few of them had been giving me stick when I was warming up, I made it my job to run back to a couple of them that were giving it to me (after scoring). I was happy to keep them quiet.

“They are obviously fighting to get promoted automatically or a good position in the play-offs. We are happy to have interrupted that.”

Hawkins was introduced with the game poised at 1-1 with the task of getting a winner but after Andy Cook’s 84th minute penalty - his second of the match - it turned into a rescue mission. The Gills had gone from one-up in the first half to 2-1 down after the break.

Hawkins scored his third goal of the season after being well-placed following Cheye Alexander’s late corner as the game ended 2-2.

“It was similar to the goal I scored at Rochdale,” he said of the equaliser. “Get infront of the man, make contact with it and hope it goes in! Luckily I made a good enough and strong enough contact to make it go in.

“I was delighted it was the equaliser and we were able to get a point. It was a great feeling.

“I had been watching on the bench and the first half was one of the best I’ve seen us, we were really good, really organised. We could have been two or three up. We really dominated that first 20 minutes, half an hour, then rode out the last 10-15 minutes defensively really well.

“We battled hard second half and thoroughly deserved the point in the end and could have had all three.”

The Gills were backed by around 350 fans, in an 18,000-strong Valley Parade crowd.

“It was a brilliant away support,” said the striker. “But I do want to apologise to them because I ran the wrong way when I scored, running over (towards those home fans) instead of running to celebrate with them, but fantastic from them to come all that way, with just a few games left.

“I am buzzing we were able to give them something.”

The Gills didn’t get the win they still crave against one of the division’s leading sides but recent games have shown they can mix it with the best in the division. They beat the leaders Leyton Orient in the week.

Hawkins said: “We are more than capable with the squad we have got and looking forward to next season now to being one of those teams that are going to be there.”

Gillingham take on Newport County this Saturday for their final home game of the season.

“We will want to keep our home form up,” said the striker. “We will want to start strong and again whatever team plays I am sure they will give their all and we can come away with three points going into the last game of the season.”

Hawkins had been a regular starter before illness ruled him out of the home game against Stockport. The last two appearances have come off the bench.

He said: “It goes to show what a squad we have got and you need that in a League 2 campaign, a big squad.

“Maybe I might have started against Stockport and unfortunately I was ill but the team did brilliant, they deserved a win, they got a point against a really tough side and I have got no complaints.

“With how the team have been playing, it has been working, I just bide my time and when it is my time again I just come on and do as well as I can.

“The gaffer said to make an impact (on Saturday), go up there and do what I can. It was a tough game to come onto, they had a lot of the ball second half, putting a lot of good crosses in and they then got a penalty and scored.

“It was difficult but I knew that we were capable of getting something and we did, we created some corners and free-kicks and it showed and we ended up getting the equaliser. I just have to do my job and do as well as I can. It paid off and I am delighted.”