Charlie Allen toils as Gills drew at Bootham Crescent. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham had to settle for a point at York as they were held to a goalless draw on Tuesday.

The crossbar denied Charlie Lee from hitting a late winner from a tight game at Bootham Crescent.

Gills boss Martin Allen stuck with the same starting XI that had begun the previous match against Bradford. The only change came on the subs bench, where Bradley Dack replaced youngster Sam Muggleton.

Allen’s men – backed by 202 travelling fans – were searching for their 11th away league win of the season, which would be a new club record. They were facing a side who had conceded four goals in each of their last four games.

Victory for the Gills would also have put them top of League 2.

York had the better of the first-half chances but were unable to make any of them count, with big striker Michael Rankine particularly wasteful.

Gillingham’s best chance of the half fell to Cody McDonald. He was picked out by a good ball through the defence from Anton Robinson, but the angled shot went just the wrong side of the post.

Winger Matty Blair was causing problems for the Gills down the flank, but the scores were goalless at the break.

A switch at half-time saw Myles Weston replace Charlie Allen in midfield and from a half-cleared Weston corner the Gills tested home keeper Michael Ingham as he got down to turn Andy Frampton’s low drive wide.

McDonald headed a great chance wide soon after as Joe Martin picked him out with an inviting cross. The Gills were guilty of missing some other good opportunities as they had two free-kicks on the edge of the box that came to nothing.

Substitute Lee's first contribution was to thump a 20-yard shot against the bar, but that was as close as the Gills got.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Martin, Barrett, Legge, Frampton, Whelpdale, Robinson (Lee 85mins), Allen (Weston 46mins), Burton (Birchall 64mins), McDonald. Subs: Davies, Dack, Forecast, Gregory.

York: Ingham, Parslow, Kerr, Chambers (McLaughlin 82mins), Fyfield, Blair, Challinor (Rodman 77mins), O’Connell, Rankine, McGrath, Obeng. Subs: Musselwhite, Walker, Potts, Everson, Allan.

Attendance: 2,699.