Deon Burton is fouled by Exeter keeper Artur Krysiak Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham stretched their unbeaten run away from home in the league to 11 games following a goalless draw at Exeter on Tuesday night.

The hosts, who started the match sitting seventh in League 2, had the majority of the clear-cut chances but failed to convert.

Gills boss Martin Allen made two changes to his starting 11, with Danny East coming in to make his first start since joining on loan from Hull City. He replaced Chris Whelpdale. Striker Deon Burton was the other change, coming in for Danny Kedwell.

On the bench was Andy Frampton, who made a welcome return to the matchday squad for the first time since being given the all-clear following a blow to the head.

Gillingham’s impressive run of results were on the line at a club where they hadn’t won since Boxing Day 1961. In the 20 games since then the Gills had lost 10 and drawn 10 at St James Park.

They started the game at a good pace and were awarded four corners in the opening 15 minutes. But apart from a couple of headers that Leon Legge placed wide there wasn’t much to trouble home keeper Artur Krysiak.

Exeter came into the game as the half wore on and striker Jamie Cureton was able to run onto numerous long balls hit over the Gills defence. He came close, but not close enough.

Jake Gosling and Matt Oakley also went near for the hosts but the Gills held on until the break.

Charlie Lee was brought on at the break for the Gills but Exeter remained dangerous at the start of the second half, with a shot from Craig Woodman heading towards the net, before Adam Barrett made a block.

Mark Molesley also shot over as the Gills found chances hard to come by.

Kedwell came on for the last 25 minutes to try and forge an opening for the visitors, as he partnered Burton in attack. It was the Gills’ leading scorer who had the first opportunity of the half but Kedwell’s chip over the keeper landed just wide.

Cureton remained a threat at the other end and only a great hooked clearance from Legge denied the striker from running clear in on goal from another ball over the top.

Anton Robinson blasted a shot into the keeper’s arms as the Gills enjoyed more of the ball towards the latter stages.

A chance for Exeter to win it fell to Guillem Bauza in the dying minutes but Adam Barrett’s lunge was enough to put him off and he scuffed the ball wide.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Martin, Legge, Barrett, Gregory, Robinson, Dack (Frampton 60mins), East (Lee 46mins), German (Kedwell 65mins), Burton. Subs not used: Forecast, Whelpdale, Davies, Birchall

Exeter: Krysiak, Woodman, Amankwah, Baldwin, Coles, Bennett, Oakley (Keohane 57mins), Davies, Molesley (O’Flynn 74mins), Gosling, Cureton (Bauza 74mins). Subs not used: Evans, Tully, Dawson, Moore-Taylor.

Attendance: 3,608