Saturday’s equalising goal was extra special for Gillingham striker Tom Eaves.

Eaves was desperate to hush the Shrewsbury fans and did just as that as he fired home a 90th-minute goal for the Gills.

The striker had twice played for Shrews on loan, but his efforts weren’t appreciated by a section of their fans.

“It felt great, I can’t lie,” said Gills’ leading goalscorer. “They give me loads every time I go there, for no reason.

“I was dying to score, to be honest. Those fans give me absolute loads so I couldn’t wait to put the ball in the back of the net. I couldn’t wait.

“I was on loan there. First time around I did pretty well, the goals helped them stay up that year. The second time not so well, but I always gave everything – scoring felt great.”

The goal also sent a message to Gills manager Steve Lovell as Eaves attempts to win his place back in the starting XI. It was his fifth goal of the season.

He said: “Nobody wants to be on the bench. I definitely don’t.

"I want to play every single game this season, so whatever I had to do I will do that.

“My priority since coming to the club was to score goals. If I’m doing that then I am helping the team.

“There should be competition in every area and I would be disappointed if there wasn’t. When you get taken out of the team your ego gets bruised a bit, you have a bit of a point to prove when you come on.

“I know what I have to do to get back into the team. I need to make myself pretty irreplaceable.”

Eaves only had one thing on his mind when he took the the field, replacing Josh Parker in the second half.

”I want to score, that’s it,” he said. “That is how I am helping the team and contributing. That is the only thing in my mind.

“If I am given chances and I am in those areas and given the ball to my feet I am very confident that I will score goals. I don’t think I ever lose the desire.”

Eaves had to sit and watch from the bench as the Gills let a 1-0 lead slip, conceding a 59th-minute equaliser. They almost lost it by conceding another late on.

“We need to learn how to punish teams and finish them off,” he said.

“Heads were down (after going 2-1 behind) but you have to keep going. We could have won it on the counter attack at the end, with a bit of better quality in the final third.”