Jordan Graham’s second stoppage time equaliser of the season earned Gillingham a point at Shrewsbury in a 1-1 draw.
The former Wolves loanee was on hand to hammer the ball home after Zech Medley’s touch from Connor Ogilvie’s long throw had caused chaos in the home penalty area to keep Steve Evans’ side remarkable recent away League record in tact.
Its now eleven League One games since the Gills last tasted defeat on their travels, a run that dates back to last November and the 1-2 reverse to AFC Wimbledon.
Graham’s strike was his fourth of this fledgling season and follows on from his 95th leveller against Coventry in the Carabao Cup a couple of weeks ago.
With Tom O’Connor making his second debut in place of Scott Robertson in the only change from the side that beat Blackpool seven days earlier, the Gills were behind early on at Montgomery Waters Meadow when Brad Walker headed home Shaun Whalley’s corner after just twelve minutes.
That said, the Gills could have led themselves, but Vadaine Oliver was fractionally wide after being put through by last weeks two goal hero Dominic Samuel.
The home side created the better chances in those opening exchanges with Whalley causing problems for the Gills rear-guard as Leon Clarke twice went close from crosses before Jack Bonham pulled off a fine save to deny Josh Vela.
The Gills huffed and puffed for much of the first half and at the break Declan Drysdale replaced Jacob Mellis for his Gills debut. The second period began brighter for the visitors and Oliver was denied by a great block after getting on the end of O’Connor’s through ball, before Samuel went close as the defence were able to block his chance.
Josh Eccles went close with a drive (again from O’Connor’s pass) as time began to run out for Gillingham. Into stoppage time and still trailing, the Gills piled forward and substitute John Akinde cushioned a header into Medley’s path only for the defenders shot to be blocked at the last gasp.
It wasn’t though “the” last gasp as that arrived four minutes into time added on as Graham fired Medley’s touch this time high into the Shrewsbury net to guarantee that a point was after all going to return to Priestfield.
All in all its been a good week for the Gills and manager Evans, next week is likely to be just as fascination with a Football League Trophy game at Ipswich in Tuesday, for which the manager has already promised whole sale changes, before a return to home base and a meeting with Oxford seven days from now.
SHREWSBURY TOWN – Burgoyne, Fossey, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre, Golbourne, Walker, Vela, Norburn, Barnett (Love 81), Clarke, Whalley (Daniels 40).
Subs – Gregory, Love, Tracey, High, Caton, Cummings.
GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Medley, Ogilvie, Mellis (Drysdale 45), O’Connor (Coyle 75), Eccles, Graham, Samuel (Akinde 85), Oliver
Subs – Walsh, Maghoma, McKenzie, MacDonald,
REFEREE – Mr Adcock