Gillingham extended their unbeaten League One run to four games with a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.

Tyler Smith had given the home side the lead in what was a dogged first-half, but defender Tom O’Connor netted his first goal for Gillingham to ensure the spoils were shared between the two sides.

Gills manager Steve Evans made two changes to the side that saw off table-topping Wycombe on Saturday, with Brandon Hanlan and Alex Jakubiak coming in for Mark Marshall and Mikael Mandron to trigger a change of shape in an effort to bring wide men into the game.

The game started slowly with Bristol Rovers winning an early free-kick deep into the Gillingham half. One of those where its hard to decide whether to shoot or cross, Luke Leahy took it and his effort was cleared.

It was clear from early on that Gillingham were going to utilise the long throw of Mark Byrne – his first of the night caused problems and forced a defensive header over the crossbar before Max Ehmer headed into Anissi Jaakkola’s arms.

Moments later, Byrne launched another missile that was met by Max Ehmer again, but Brandon Hanlan couldn’t reach his flick on and Tony Craig cleared for Rovers.

A sight the Gillingham faithful didn’t want to see saw fans’ favourite Barry Fuller fall to the floor just before the 10 minute mark with an injury. He was treated by the physio and tried to continue, but he wasn’t able to do so and was replaced by youngster Jack Tucker minutes later.

There were few chances as the first-half progressed – Oliver Lee fired over from 30 yards after a neat pass from Tucker, but his effort was never troubling Jaakkola.

Saturday’s match winner Mikael Ndjoli, playing out wide on the night, worked the ball well down the right-hand side for Gillingham not long after. He earned his team a corner, but Connor Ogilvie headed Lee’s cross well wide.

Bristol Rovers almost broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark, and it was main man Jonson Clarke-Harris who nearly put them ahead. A cross came in and Jack Bonham came to claim it, but the former Rovers stopper was caught in no man’s land and left stranded. Clarke-Harris won the header, but Tom O’Connor got back to clear off the line with relative ease.

Steve Evans tinkered with his personnel, swapping Brandon Hanlan and Mikael Ndjoli’s positions, but he was left scratching his head when Tyler Smith fired the home side ahead on 38 minutes.

A diagonal ball was headed onto Smith, dragging Gills captain Max Ehmer out of position in the process. The forward ran at Connor Ogilvie, twisting and turning, before finding some space and firing past Bonham into the bottom left corner of the goal.

It was a goal Rovers deserved after their late first-half pressure, and they went into half time with the lead.

Rovers continued their pressure into the second-half and Leahy had a free-kick headed away before Ed Upson had a follow-up effort blocked.

Just before the hour mark, Jonson Clarke-Harris flicked on Josh Hare’s pinpoint cross, but substitute Liam Sercombe could only fire well over the bar.

Moments after, Upson fired wide again after more good play from Clarke-Harris, and it seemed as if Rovers would double their lead before Gillingham had their chance to get another shot away.

Oliver Lee had a tame free-kick saved before Clarke-Harris sent a header straight down Jack Bonham’s throat, but the game was slowed down due to another injury, this time to Rovers full-back, and former Gillingham man, Josh Hare.

Hare was stretchered off to a round of applause from all corners of the ground, then, going into the final ten minutes, the match came alive.

Gillingham substitute Mikael Mandron had a shot blocked as Rovers defenders put their bodies on the line, but they were caught napping when an Oliver Lee diagonal ball found Connor Ogilvie free at the far post. His effort, on the stretch, was parried by Jakkola, but only as far as Southampton loanee Tom O’Connor, who prodded home at the first time of asking from close range.

After the goal, both teams fancied the win as an end-to-end game sparked. Ex-Rovers forward Alex Jakubiak did well to win a corner for Gillingham but Rovers broke, and Clarke-Harris fired another effort straight at Jack Bonham.

Tom O’Connor nearly stole all three points for Gillingham late on with another chance that was saved by Jaakola, and, into extra-time, Gillingham began to pepper the home box.

Another Mark Byrne long throw followed an Oliver Lee free-kick, and Lee had a shot blocked before Mark Byrne missed the target by inches with the final kick of the game. The away players had their heads in their hands as Kevin Johnson blew the final whistle, and Steve Evans’ men had to settle with taking a point back to Kent.

Bristol Rovers: Jaakkola, Ogogo, Craig, Upson, Clarke (Sercombe 54), Clarke-Harris, Leahy, Kilgour, Davies, Smith (Adeboyejo 80), Hare (Little 74).

Subs not used: Van Stappershoef, Nichols, Bennett, Rodman.

Goals: Smith 38

Gillingham: Bonham, Ehmer, Ogilvie, Hanlan (Mandron 62), Ndjolic (Marshall 45), Fuller (Tucker 13), Jones, Byrne, Lee, Jakubiak, O’Connor.

Subs not used: Walsh, O’Keefe, Charles-Cook, Pringle.

Goals: O’Connor 83

Attendance: 6370 (231 away)

Referee: Mr. K. Johnson

Assistants: Mr. C. Husband and Mr. K. Howick

Fourth official: Mr. G. Taylor