Gillingham 0 Carlisle 0

Gillingham produced a stirring display but failed to find the winner they deserved against promotion-hopefuls Carlisle at Priestfield on Saturday.

However, with Crewe being beaten at Luton, the result did claw the Gills to within four points of safety.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson said: "This was a point gained in my eyes against a team going for promotion and you could see they were a good side.

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"We took them all the way and we just needed a bit of luck and we could have won the game. If you're not going to win the game then you can get a point and that's what we got as well as a clean sheet.

"Danny Cullip was back in the side and there were a lot of plusses to take into the game against Luton on Tuesday night. If we can get a win there then it will set it up nicely.

"It's the strongest team I've had available since I've been here and we've shown against a top team that we can match them and if we can keep those players out on the pitch then we can win some games."

The visitors started brightly and Simon King had to clear off his own goal-line in the opening three minutes.

But thereafter Gillingham dominated. They came closest 12 minutes after the break when Simeon Jackson collected possession and let fly from 25 yards but saw his effort cannon back off the bar.

Jackson also blazed over when well placed after a fine second half move involving Dennis Oli and Adam Miller.

Earlier, skipper Andrew Crofts and Jackson had both seen decent heading chances go begging and Miller volleyed over the top when he should have done better.

Gillingham: Stillie, King, Cullip, Richards, Southall, Nutter, Crofts, Bentley, Miller (Griffiths 78), Oli, Jackson.

Subs not used: Kiely, Fuller, Stone, Cumbers.

Attendance: 6,673.