Gillingham 0 Cheltenham 0

GILLINGHAM have now scored just once in their last five outings after a goalless draw with Cheltenham at Priestfield on Saturday.

Both sides hit the woodwork in an open game. First, Adam Miller's deflected effort on 40 minutes beat keeper Shane Higgs but came back off the underside of the bar.

Then, with eight minutes to play, Cheltenham striker Steven Gillespie was unlucky to see his dipping 25-yard shot also cannon back off the bar.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson was taking the positives from the match.

He said: "It was always going to be a tough game and like ourselves they are down at the wrong end of the table.

"We have to take some positives out of the game and if I didn't I wouldn't be doing my job properly. We kept a clean sheet and got a point.

"Simeon Jackson made his debut and on another day he could have scored a couple. Fair play to the defence and Simon Royce for keeping a clean sheet. Can we now do better in front of them? I know we can."

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Miller came close for the Gills again in the 49th minute but he sent a free header high and wide.

The home side had two narrow escapes in the closing stages of the first half. Andy Lindergaard blazed over from close range and then Barry Fuller, making his home debut for Gillingham, did superbly to block Gillespie's goalbound effort.

The visitors almost snatched the lead within a minute of the restart but David Bird failed to connect properly from inside the six yard box.

The result leaves the Gills sitting two points above the League 1 relegation zone.

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Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Bygrave, King, Nutter, Bentley (Oli 63 mins), Thurgood (Lewis 45 mins), Crofts, Miller, Facey, Jackson.

Subs Not Used: Stillie, Richards, Griffiths.

Attendance: 4,993.
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For all the action and reaction from Priestfield see Monday's Medway Messenger.