Gillingham were forced to settle for a point on home soil after being held by fellow promotion-hopefuls Bury.

Curtis Weston’s second goal in as many games handed Gillingham the half-time advantage, but they failed to hang onto their lead.

The Gills midfielder (pictured being congratulated by teammates) had driven home a low shot from 20 yards with 25 minutes gone.

Scores were level midway through the second half, however, when Bury hot-shot Ryan Lowe burst into the area, before smashing a powerful angled effort past keeper Alan Julian.

Cody McDonald could have snatched the points late on for Gills, but volleyed over from close range in normal time, before hitting an effort straight at the keeper in injury time.

Both teams were evenly matched for much of the game and the Gills survived an early scare, when Lenell John-Lewis somehow put a chance over the bar from close range, with the goal gaping.

Weston had warmed up for his opener by sending an effort just wide of the post with 12 minutes on the clock. And just before he did fire the Gills ahead, they came close from a set-piece, as Danny Jackman curled one wide.

McDonald came close to doubling the Gills lead, just a minute after Weston’s opener, but his toe-poked effort went the wrong side of the post after Adebayo Akinfenwa had sent him in on goal.

Bury’s 20-goal striker Ryan Lowe was kept quiet by Garry Richards and Matt Lawrence, who was back in the side as Gillingham’s only change from the team which drew with Crewe last weekend. Lowe’s only effort of the first half went out for a thrown in.

Bury had the ball in the net close to the hour-mark, when David Worrall threaded the ball through to John-Lewis, but the assistant’s flag ruled the goal out for off-side. John-Lewis had a header saved by Alan Julian moments later during a tense passage of play for the Gills.

The Gills introduced a fit-again Andy Barcham to liven up proceedings and with his first touch he broke from a Bury free-kick. After a one-two with Akinfenwa he shot low but goalkeeper Cameron Belford was equal to it.

Lowe was the man to level the scores on 72 minutes, despite big shouts around Priestfield for off-side, as he cut in and drove a powerful shot across Julian and into the far corner for his 21st of the season.

Gillingham’s top-scorer McDonald had a great chance a minute from time to win the game but smashed the chance high into the Rainham End after Kevin Maher’s ball over the defence had put him in the clear.

McDonald had another good chance a minute later but stabbed the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Richards, Lawrence, Nutter, Weston (Oli 75mins), J Payne, Maher, Jackman (Barcham 67mins), McDonald, Akinfenwa. Subs: Cronin, Sinclair, Bentley, Rooney, White.

Bury: Belford, Picken, Skarz, Lees, Sodje, Mokiza, Jones, Schumacher, Lowe, Worrall (Howarth 65mins), John-Lewis (Sweeney 88mins). Subs: Branagan, Jones, McCarthy, Bennett, Harrop.

Attendance: 5,021

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