Luke Rooney celebrates getting Gillingham's equaliser at Torquay Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Luke Rooney rescued a point for Gillingham with a goal deep into the League 2 match against Torquay on Saturday.

Gillingham dominated the first half at Plainmoor but were a goal down following an early goalkeeping howler.

Alan Julian spilt Eunan O’Kane’s seventh minute shot, after captain Barry Fuller had given the ball away, and Elliot Benyon was on hand to steer the ball home.

Gillingham spent much of the first half peppering Torquay’s goal with shots and chances, but couldn’t find a way past giant-sized keeper Scott Bevan.

The Gills struggled after the break and it needed a shot from young substitute Rooney to put them back on level terms with three minutes of normal time left.

Bevan, at 6ft 5in, made a number of good saves in the first half, and blocks he may not have known much about, as the Gills went in search of an equaliser following the early blunder.

Josh Gowling had a header saved by Bevan midway through the first half and then his follow-up was tipped wide.

A brief halt in Gillingham forward play saw Julian save well from Mark Ellis, but it was back on the front foot for the visitors for the remainder of the opening half.

McDonald, with 12 goals to his name before the weekend, had a low shot blocked by Bevan, and Andy Barcham was denied from close range twice with the keeper sprawled in front of him.

Again McDonald went close with a lob from the edge of the box, but Bevan was there again to parry the shot wide of the goal.

The Gills started the second more tentatively and were open to the counter-attack as they chased the game. Ellis should have made it 2-0 from a corner, but he headed wide with the goal gaping.

Julian was keen to make amends of his earlier effort and saved well from Chris Zebroski as Gillingham struggled to replicate their first half prowess.

A break from Benyon caught the Gills out with 20 minute left but his pull-back was blocked by Gowling as Danny Stevens was ready to stick the ball home.

Gillingham’s first real chance of the second half came 75 minutes in when substitute Luke Rooney curled an effort narrowly wide.

At the other end Benyon struck the outside of the post and O’Kane was denied by Julian.

With time ticking on Rooney blasted Gills level from nowhere, to the relief and joy of the 432 visiting fans, with a shot from the edge of the box which sneaked in with a deflection.

Torquay: Bevan, Nicholson, Ellis, Branston, Robertson, Mansell, Wroe (Oastler 77mins), Stevens, Zebroski, O’Kane, Benyon (Kee 90mins). Subs not used: Rowe-Turner, Potter, Halpin, Lathrope, Hemmings.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Lawrence, Gowling, Maher, Weston, Spiller (Akinfenwa 60mins), Jackman (Bentley 84mins), Barcham (Rooney 68mins), McDonald. Subs not used: Richards, Cronin, J Payne, Martin.

Attendance: 2,368

What are your thoughts on Gillingham's 1-1 draw at Torquay? Leave your comments below.