by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham were denied maximum points at Priestfield after conceding in injury time.

Cody McDonald looked to have handed Gills the points with an 80th minute goal but in injury-time Kevin Nicholson blasted in a low free-kick.

Gillingham had the better of the chances in the first half and the game was just seconds old when Dennis Oli saw a header hooked from off the line by Kevin Nicholson.

The Gills were finding giant-sized keeper Scott Bevan in top form, as he saved a couple of good shots and plucked many crosses out of the air.

Bevan tipped Cody McDonald’s 30th minute effort wide with one hand and moments later came to Torquay’s rescue again but sliding out to block a cross from Chris Palmer, after seconds earlier denying substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Akinfenwa had been introduced with just half an hour gone due to an injury to Curtis Weston.

Torquay’s best moment in the first half fell to new loan signing Romone Rose. His rising effort was turned over the bar by Alan Julian.

Torquay started the second half well, with Chris Zebroski hitting the bar with a scissor kick and moments later Barry Fuller cleared off the line from Eunan O’Kane.

Akinfenwa hit the bar at the other end for the Gills before McDonald converted Danny Spiller’s cross.

Gillingham looked to be heading towards maximum points before Nicholson’s free-kick squirmed under Julian.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Lawrence, Sinclair, J Payne, Maher (Spiller 65mins), Palmer (Bentley 83mins), Weston (Akinfenwa 29mins), Oli, McDonald. Subs not used: Gowling, Inkango, S Payne, Cronin.

Torquay: Bevan, Nicholson, Ellis, Branston, Robertson, Mansell, O’Kane (Hemmings 56mins), Oastler, Rose (Kee 65mins), Zebroski, Benyon (Gritton 81mins). Subs not used: Potter, R-Turner, Macklin, Stevens.

Attendance: 5,345.