The blow of conceding an 89th-minute equaliser didn’t detract from the bigger picture for Gills boss Neil Harris.

Harris liked what he saw from his side against in-form Stockport in their 1-1 draw at Priestfield.

They led through George Lapslie’s neat finish early in the second half, only for Will Collar’s header to earn a point for a Hatters side who had climbed to third place in League 2 after an eight-game unbeaten run.

The teams topped the respective home and away form guides, so it was always likely to be close.

And Harris was happy with the point as Gillingham edged another step closer to safety, 11 points clear of the bottom two in 18th place.

“My glass is half-full,” he said. “Tactically, the lads got it.

“I don’t always deliver as much as I did over the last 48 hours to the players because it’s a lot to take in but they took the information in and delivered it and played really well.

“We were excellent without the ball against a team that have more end-products and final-third entries and crosses in the box than any other team in the league. We gave very little away.

“So for 89 minutes, brilliant, but good teams find a way, really good teams find a way.

“We could have done slightly better in those final moments but it’s a great header.

“He’s headed it from 15 yards into the top corner.”

Gillingham, who can clinch safety at home to title-chasing Leyton Orient on Tuesday, scored a good goal themselves.

The ball was recycled after a lovely passage of play outside the County box, with Lapslie - enjoying the chance to play in his favoured No.10 role - finishing well.

• Report: Gills 1-1 Stockport

Harris said: “It was a great finish. We talked about sustaining pressure around the box and we did it.

"When we got to the final third we made calm decisions and you need that composure and George Lapslie’s been doing that for a few years now.

“That’s why we brought him in and ultimately George Lapslie’s best position is the middle of the park.

“He wants to play in the spine of the team.

“I’ve had to use him in wide areas to fit in with how we want to play and he’s trying to adapt but Lapo in the middle of the park, he took his chance today.”

Unfortunately, the Gills couldn’t hold on.

Harris added: “We almost stop the first ball from the goalkeeper, we almost stop the cross, we almost stop the last contact. We almost did it all.

“In the 89 minutes before that, we did it.

“But good teams find a way, so I’ll stand by it was a good goal by them, as we scored a good goal as well.

“I’m not going to be negative towards my group at all. I thought it was an excellent performance.”