Gillingham 0 Stockport 0

Gillingham and Stockport will have to meet again after deadlock at Priestfield on Saturday.

An entertaining FA Cup second round clash finished scoreless but both sides had their fair share of chances.

The opening half belonged to Gillingham and they were unlucky not to have the lead going into the break.

The visitors may also be thanking referee Pat Miller for keeping his whistle from his mouth, after defender James Tunnicliffe wrestled Simeon Jackson down to the floor, as the striker bore down on goal with just keeper Owain fon Williams to beat.

County’s keeper Williams needed to be at his best to save from Adam Miller - tipping Miller’s powerful effort over the bar.

Gillingham also came close through Mark Bentley, with a header that struck the side netting, and further efforts that came close following headers from Miller and Curtis Weston.

Stockport caused Gillingham a couple of scares early in the second half when Stephen Gleeson smashed one chance over the bar and Matty McNeil headed another over.

Gills keeper Simon Royce did well to save Anthony Pilkington’s low drive on 67 minutes and seconds later his opposite number Fon Williams saved to deny another header from Bentley.

Gleeson had another great chance as Stockport continued to have the better of the second half opportunities but he put a volleyed shot wide on 85 minutes. Just seconds later Royce tipped another Gleeson shot wide for a corner kick as the game ended at a frantic pace.

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Gillingham manager Mark Stimson said: “I said before the game we need to make sure we’re in the draw and we are. The players went out and gave everything.

“At half-time I said to the player that was the best 45 minutes I’ve seen since I’ve been here.

"The biggest decision of the day was for the referee to make when Jackson was through and their big centre half was climbing all over him. We didn’t get a free-kick; we didn’t get anything from it. That could have changed the game.

“It was a great FA Cup tie, it was like rolling back the years and the fans should go home proud of the players.”

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Richards, Bentley, Miller (Mulligan 64mins), Weston, Barcham (McCammon 79mins (Pugh 90mins)), Jarrett, Jackson. Subs not used: Lewis, Julian, Mills, Essam.

Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins, Blizzard, McNulty, Pilkington, Taylor (Dicker 46mins), Tunnicliffe, Gleeson, McNeil (Thompson 67mins), McSweeney, Davies (Rowe 46mins). Subs not used: Rose, Baker, Rowe, Turnbull, Rigby.

Attendance: 4,419