It proved to be a frustrating day for the Gills on Saturday.

Striker Tom Eaves hit the woodwork in both halves as Gills’ dominance went unrewarded.

The Gills bossed the League 1 match from start to finish but couldn’t find the end product.

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell, not surprisingly, stuck with the same starting line-up that dominated the first half at Northampton in midweek.

The only change was on the bench, where Lee Martin was replaced by Liam Nash. Martin had only just returned from being out with a calf injury.

The Gills went into the game eight unbeaten at Priestfield in the league and edging closer to the target of 50-51 points set by Lovell, before looking further ahead.

The better of the first half chances fell to the Gills but the score remained goalless at the break. The second 45 went the same way.

Gills’ leading scorer Eaves went close with headers twice in the opening half, clipping the bar with one from Connor Ogilvie’s cross and moments later heading wide a delivery from Luke O’Neill.

Callum Reilly got a sight of goal after good work from Eaves to win possession, but his low shot was drilled wide.

Walsall’s George Dobon tried his luck from distance but Holy got a hand to the effort and Connor Ogilvie cleared.

Eaves remained Gills’ best hope of breaking the deadlock but an early effort after the break was drilled straight at the keeper.

Gillingham continued to have the upper-hand and Ogilvie’s low ball across the face of goal was begging for a touch but nobody was close enough to finish.

Eaves drilled an effort wide and the chances kept coming for the striker, hooking an effort at goal from on the ground, only to see it go out of play off the post.

Keeper Liam Roberts comfortably held onto Jake Hessenthaler’s drive, Mark Byrne’s powerful effort was blocked and Josh Parker headed over as Gillingham continued to be frustrated.

Hessenthaler fired another effort over in stoppage-time as the Gills were forced to settle for a point.

Gillingham: Holy, O’Neill (Wagstaff 74mins), Ogilvie, Nugent, Ehmer, Zakuani, Reilly (Wilkinson 62mins), Byrne, Hessenthaler, Eaves, Parker. Subs not used: Hadler, Garmston, List, Nash, Moussa.

Walsall: L Roberts, Edwards, Leahy, Dobson, Guthrie, Devlin, Chambers, Oztumer (Cuvelier 76mins), Morris (Kouhyar 69mins), Bakayoko (Shaibu 69mins), Fitzwater. Subs not used: Gillespie, Kinsella, Flanagan, K Roberts.

Attendance: 4,682 (209 away)