Stephen Clemence has praised his Gillingham side despite being held at home by rivals Swindon Town on Tuesday night.

The Gills looked to have been on course for a vital three points at Priestfield, having come from behind after the visitors took a half time lead.

Oli Hawkins levelled and when Connor Mahoney put Gillingham in front from the penalty spot on 79 minutes after some sublime play by substitute Jorge Hurtado, it looked like the home side would go on and win.

However, a 94th minute strike by Swindon’s Harry McKirdy meant the points had to be shared after an enthralling game that could have gone either way.

Stephen Clemence’s side were on track to claim back-to-back wins and their fifth in eight matches before substitute Harry McKirdy disrupted their evening at home.

Following a further dent to the Gills’ play-off charge, and the chance to move into seventh, the boss felt assured that his side’s belief is still strong.

He said: “You can’t fault the effort of the lads, they dug in when it was difficult and then had a right go in the second half. We were unfortunate not to win it in the end.”

“There’s a belief in the group now that they can score goals and take teams on. They are in a much better place.”

“We haven’t lost, we’ve moved a point closer to the play-offs, but it’s a bit frustrating knowing if we’d have won we’d have moved into the top seven.”

“We didn’t start well enough, but fair play to Swindon, they played well and they could have been two or three up.”

“We had to change one or two things at half-time, which helped us in the second half and allowed us to get more pressure up the pitch. I feel disappointed right now but I think it’s a fair result.”

Interim Swindon head coach Gavin Gunning, who has spent almost a month at the helm since Michael Flynn’s departure, said: “When it clicks for Harry (McKirdy), he can carve up defences at this level and I’m very happy for him.”

“In his career he’s struggled for a bit of confidence, so maybe that goal will spur him on to the next level, I’m looking forward to his next few weeks unfolding.”

“They’re in good form, they’re an experienced team, so all in all I’ll take the draw, 90 plus four, but it’s frustrating when we’re missing a load of chances.”

“Obviously scoring at the death is brilliant, but when you’re in charge of a game and you miss chances, the players can get sloppy, they can punish you and you get out of your rhythm.”

“Every manager we’ve played against has been really positive about the way we’re playing. When it clicks, somebody’s going to get a belting.”

For Clemence, he now has to turn his attention to Saturday’s trip to face a Newport County side that will also have hopes of putting a run together and securing a League Two play-off place.

The takeaway from this performance should be that being on the front foot serves Gillingham better and their second half showing was much improved.

However, one stand out has to be the performance of Jorge Hurtado who came off the bench and really turned heads at Priestfield.

The striker certainly deserves a starting berth and alongside Oli Hawkins, the pair could prove to be a real thorn in the side of many defences between now and the end of the season.