MARK STIMSON marked his first home game in charge of Gillingham with a 1-1 draw against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday.

The game’s opening goal came after 18 minutes when Chris Dickson showed a brilliant piece of individual skill to flick the ball inside Rovers skipper Adam Lockwood, before firing the ball low past Neil Sullivan.

The Gills were awarded a penalty on 35 minutes when Dickson raced on to a pass from Mark Bentley before being brought down by Sullivan.

Facey stepped up to take the spot kick but his powerful shot crashed against the crossbar and Rovers cleared their lines.

In the second half, the visitors created a hatful of chances before eventually pulling level through a penalty of their own after 64 minutes.

Barry Cogan was adjudged to have pulled back Ritchie Wellens in the area and referee Keith Hill showed no hesitation in awarding the penalty.

Hayter stepped up and fired the spot kick into the bottom right corner to send the travelling fans into a frenzy.

Both sides had chances to win the game with Gills keeper Simon Royce the busier of the two.

Stimson said: “It was an exciting game. Overall I’m pleased with a point but obviously being at home I would have loved to have got all three.

“The only thing that disappoints me is Simon Royce being named man of the match. I said to Simon that’s something I don’t like as I don’t like my goalkeeper being named as that. I’d much rather it was their goalkeeper.”

Gillingham: Royce, Southall, Cox, Sodje, King, Bentley, Crofts, Brown, Cogan, Facey, Dickson.

Subs not used: Stillie, Graham, Mulligan, Clohessy, Lomas.

Attendance: 5,030.