Substitute Conor Wilkinson salvaged Steve Lovell his first “official” Christmas point as a manager, as the Gills came from behind to grab some seasonal cheer in front of over 5,500 at Priestfield this Boxing Day lunchtime.

It really was a Christmas to remember for Wilkinson as he smashed home his first League goal at home base with just three minutes left after a corner from the right had caused absolute mayhem in an Oxford defence that had in truth looked increasingly anxious as the game had gone on.

That shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise after the mauling the United defence had received at the hands of Wigan Athletic at the weekend, but in truth Lovell will have been disappointed that his side didn’t create more.

And that position was made even more worrying for Lovell when Ricardinho was allowed far too much time and space coming in off the left wing before beating the Gills keeper low to his left with a stinging drive that fizzed through the crowd giving Holy little chance.

That came six minutes into the second half and the Gills keeper was grateful to Max Ehmer moments later when Holy spilled Rothwell’s shot, but the central defender was on hand to clear.

Despite the hardworking Eaves making countless runs and support, such were the Gills struggling to string anything together that a miss-hit Holy free kick that had Eastwood moving quickly across his goal, some members of the Priestfield faithful questioned if the Gills had had a shot on target.

McNeil was then fractionally wide from the edge of the box as the Gills slowly raised the tempo, and there was little argument that the introduction of Wilkinson for the ineffective Lee Martin had something to do with that, although Lovell’s other change halfway through the second half was greeted with surprise as Connor Ogilvie replaced Eaves and potentially not Parker – though to be fair there were many candidates for the second change!

Ball upon ball was pumped forward without little result and had not Ehmer and Gabriel Zakuani not been on top of their games, the visitors may well have doubled their lead.

As it was, the visitors defence still shell-shocked for being hit for seven at the weekend began to drop deeper and deeper and when Sean Clare’s cross caused more mayhem than it should after Eastwood miss-judged his punch completely, Wilkinson smashed the ball into the roof of the net from all of two yards out to send most of the Rainham End home reasonably happy – even if many will have forgotten a lot about the game before tucking into their respective Boxing Day dinners…

To show just how strange an afternoon it was at Priestfield – the announcement of Parker as the sponsor’s man of the match was greeted with nothing but a wall of silence – so much for good will to all men at this time of year.

The boss will be disappointed that his side couldn’t get the three points, but a point will be good enough to guarantee that his side don’t start Saturday’s final game of the calendar year outside the relegation zone which after all is the one Christmas wish all Gills fans want for the season’s end come May!

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Ehmer, Zakuani, Hessenthaler, Eaves Cundle 67), Martin (Wilkinson 68), Parker, Ogilvie, Clare, Byrne (List 79).

Subs not used: Nelson, Lacey, Nugent, Oldaker.

Goal: Wilkinson (87).

Booked: Hessenthaler (93).

Oxford United line up: Eastwood, Carroll, Martin, Mousinho, Ricardinho, Van Kessel (Payne 61), Ledson, Ruffels, Rothwell, Obika, Thomas (Henry 82).

Subs not used: Shearer, Tiendalli, Williamson, Xemi, Mowatt.

Goal: Ricardinho (52).

Booked: Ledson (68), Payne (72), Ricardinho (90), Carroll (93).

Referee: Nicholas Kinseley (Essex).

Attendance: 5,555 (440 Oxford).