Dennis Oli’s last gasp equaliser just minutes after coming off the bench earnt The Gills a hard fought for point on Good Friday.

It seemed like it wasn’t going to be Gillingham’s afternoon when Danny Kedwell had a spot kick saved midway through the first half, but they took the lead on 56 minutes when Chris Whelpdale slammed the ball home from 35 yards out.

The lead didn’t last long though as Eliot Richards was on hand to head home Mathew Gill’s pinpoint cross.

It got even worse for The Gills ten minutes before time when Mustapha Carayol was allowed too much time and space to dink the ball over Paulo Gazzaniga for 2-1.

With the game seemingly going to go in favour of the home side, up popped Dennis Oli to head the ball past Bevan for 2-2.

The game had started in fairly subdued fashion with Gillingham having made the one change from the side that beat Macclesfield with Rowan Vine replacing the injured Jo Kuffour in the starting line up.

Neither side looked to take the initiative from the word go and it seemed as though the odd goal might settle the game.

Gillingham’s forays forward were few and far between to start with, with Lewis Montrose’s cross just evading Chris Whelpdale at the far post with the goal at his mercy.

Meanwhile, Carayol had let fly with an audacious swinging shot that just about evaded the goal.

Then came the first contentious decision of the afternoon on 27 minutes when Dan Woodard was adjudged to have handled in the box.

Up stepped Danny Kedwell to attempt to score his eighth spot kick of the season, but keeper Scott Bevan was up to the task, clawing the ball into the path of Vine who saw the Rovers keeper deny him too.

That could have dented Gillingham’s confidence, but they soaked up some early pressure in the second half before taking the lead.

Just ten minutes of the second half had elapsed when Kedwell teed up Whelpdale outside the Rovers box and the midfielder made no mistake with a rasping shot that thundered home for his tenth of the season.

The lead lasted just minutes though as Matt Gill’s far post cross was headed past Gazzaniga by substitute Eliot Richards for 1-1.

Then came the second contentious decision of the afternoon when referee Dean Whitestone turned down their appeal for a penalty as Connor Essam felled Matt Harrold in the box.

With nine minutes left on the clock, the Pirates took the lead after putting together a sustained spell of pressure with Matt Harrold’s dinked ball over the top falling invitingly into the path of Carayol who made no mistake slotting the ball past Gazzaniga for 2-1.

Hessenthaler’s final throw of the dice was to throw Dennis Oli on for the final few minutes and he was rewarded for doing so with seconds left as the striker latched onto Gazzaniga’s punt upfield and headed past Bevan who was left stranded.

Oli’s second goal of the season couldn’t have come at a better time and Gillingham showed the fighting spirit needed to push for the illusive play-off place.

FULL TIME: BRISTOL ROVERS 2-2 GILLINGHAM

Buoyed by the late equaliser, Gillingham welcome Dagenham & Redbridge to Priestfield on Easter Monday for what is surely a must win game.

With Northampton Town beating Oxford United 2-1 on Friday evening, The Gills are now just three points outside the play-offs with five games to play.

Bristol Rovers line up: Bevan, Woodards (Smith 54), Parkes, Bolger, Paterson (Gill 43), Carayol, Stanley, Lund, Sawyer, Zebroski (Richards H/T), Harrold.

Subs not used: Brown, Dorman.

Goals: Richards (59), Carayol (80).

Gillingham line up: Gazzaniga, Fish, Essam, Frampton, Martin, Whelpdale, Montrose (Spiller 71), J Payne, Jackman (Oli 86), Kedwell, Vine (Miller 79).   Subs not used: Evans, O Lee.

Goals: Whelpdale (56), Oli (90).

Booked: Martin (14), Fish (60), J Payne (61).

Referee: Mr Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 6,160 (383 Gills).