Gillingham 1 Cardiff City 2

GILLINGHAM were denied a deserved point after missing a late penalty, moments after Cardiff substitute Lee Bullock had headed the visitors into an 86th minute lead.

Wales striker Rob Earnshaw saw a penalty brilliantly saved by Gills keeper Steve Banks, before directing a Paul Parry cross home to give Cardiff a 1-0 half-time lead.

The home side were much-improved in the second half and equalised just before the hour as Hope rose highest to head home a Nicky Southall corner, but a Banks handling error gifted the Bluebirds a second.

He attempted a one-handed catch, but instead palmed the ball to Richard Langley who clipped it into the box for Bullock, on loan from Nationwide Division 3 side York, to head into an unguarded net.

From the kick-off, Chris Barker brought down Gary Whales in the box, but Alan Pouton missed the first penalty of his career, dragging his shot a foot wide of Martyn Margetson’s right-hand post.