Gillingham 2 Shrewsbury 2

Gillingham were denied a place in the top three of League 2 after conceding two goals in the final 11 minutes.

A stunning strike by Curtis Weston looked to have laid the foundations for another Gillingham victory at Priestfield on Saturday.

Weston�s third minute volley gave the Gills a first half lead and that was doubled early in the second when Nicky Southall netted. With results going Gillingham�s way a place in the top three was on offer.

But Shrewsbury made it 2-1 with 11 minutes left when Grant Holt netted from the spot and in the final minute the same player headed home from close range to level the game.

The last time the sides met Shrewsbury were four nil ahead by half-time but the game at Priestfield was a different story.

Just three minutes were on the clock when Gillingham took the lead. A defensive clearance fell to midfielder Weston and he struck a fantastic volley over the head of keeper Luke Daniels.

It was a cracking start to the game but there weren�t too many chances for the remaining minutes of the half.

Ben Davies struck a free-kick well over on 30 minutes but it wasn�t until first half injury time when home keeper Simon Royce was called into action. He made a great one handed save to deny another Davies free-kick and preserve Gillingham�s lead.

The Gills clearly needed a cushion and they got that six minutes into the second half when Simeon Jackson back-heeled into the path of Southall and he netted with ease.

Mark McCammon came close to making it 3-0 but his shot on 63 minutes was helped over the bar by Davies.

Shrewsbury substitute Moses Ashikodi should have halved the deficit, but from close range he smashed Grant Holt�s cross onto the bar, and seconds later Royce made another great save to tip Davies� free-kick round the post.

Grant Holt pulled a goal back from the spot on 79 minutes when Moses Ashikodi was fouled in the box by Barry Fuller. The Gills defender had every reason to feel aggrieved with what was a harsh decision by referee Graham Horwood.

In the final minute a cross from Chris Humphrey was met by Holt and he steered home the equaliser.

Only a great save from Royce deep into injury time denied Holt a hat-trick and left Gillingham with something to take from the game.

Gillingham captain Barry Fuller conceded the penalty that turned the game around. He said: �I don�t think it was a penalty and if it was outside of the box I don�t think he would have given a foul.

�Some referees give it and some wouldn�t and I was just disappointed to see him point to the spot.

�I�ve just go to pick myself up now and the boys have to pick themselves up after conceding the second.

�For the players it feels like a defeat and like we�ve chucked two points away but we can�t let ourselves get too down. We play Notts County on Tuesday night and we have to pick ourselves up and go again.�

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King (Richards 80mins), Bentley, Southall, Miller, Weston, Barcham (Oli 57mins), McCammon, Jackson. Subs not used: Lewis, Julian, Mulligan.

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Moss, Ashton, Coughlan, Dunfield, Langmead, Davies, Murray (Leslie 72mins), Holt, Worrall (Humphrey 56mins), Cansdell-Sherriff (Ashikodi 46mins). Subs not used: Garner, Chadwick.

Attendance: 6,023