Gillingham’s new manager Gareth Ainsworth watched his side come from behind to claim a point at Harrogate.

This was the first of nine games that Ainsworth has to assess the current players ahead of a big summer transfer window.

It was a tale of two penalties in Yorkshire. Fellow strugglers Harrogate took the lead from the penalty spot in the first half and Max Clark levelled with a spot-kick after the break, in a game that finished 1-1.

There was plenty of speculation about Ainsworth’s team selection but the only change from the previous weekend’s starting line-up was enforced.

With just two sessions on the training ground ahead of the weekend he had little time to make big changes, opting to also stick with a similar formation than his predecessor.

Robbie McKenzie took the captain’s armband in the absence of Armani Little, who was suspended, after accumulating 10 bookings. Jonny Williams was recalled to the starting line-up.

Max Ehmer, the club captain, wasn’t named in the squad and there was no recall for Bradley Dack or Jack Nolan, while Liverpool loanee Dom Corness dropped out of the squad.

Jayden Clarke, Aaron Rowe and Shad Ogie all returned to the matchday squad.

Hosts Harrogate started the afternoon with the division’s worst scoring record and the Gills hadn’t done much better. In breezy North Yorkshire conditions, a goalfest wasn’t expected.

An early effort from Elliott Nevitt lacked power or precision after meeting Remeao Hutton’s cross with his head.

Williams went closer for the Gills with a curling effort that just missed the target but other than that the visitors were relying on long throws into the box from Hutton.

Town striker Jack Muldoon had a great chance to open the scoring after charging down a Conor Masterson clearance. His shot wasn’t anywhere near good enough to trouble Gills’ keeper Glenn Morris.

The game was struggling to take off and Town sent a few shots wide of the mark before taking the lead from the penalty spot with five minutes of the half remaining.

March had been booked early on after going looking for a penalty under pressure from Sam Gale. He got the decision when he went down again, this time after being felled by Morris.

Referee David Rock pointed to the spot and March picked himself up and sent the Gills keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.

A disappointing opening 45 minutes for the Gills ended without a shot on target.

Town almost got an early second goal after the restart when March crossed for Jasper Moon but the Town man couldn’t convert from close range.

Ainsworth turned to his bench with an hour gone, with the home keeper untroubled at that stage. Oli Hawkins and Euan Williams were introduced for Joe Gbode and Jimmy-Jay Morgan.

Hawkins made an instant impact as he was tripped in the box and it was defender Clark who stepped up for the penalty, sending it home on 68 minutes into the same place that March had placed his effort in the first half.

March came close to putting Town back ahead when his header was directed towards the bottom corner of Gillingham’s goal but Morris was alert and got there in time. The Gills goalie had also saved well to deny Muldoon.

Toby Sims’ effort looped just over the bar for Town with five minutes left but the Gills had a golden chance to win it late on when Jayden Clarke crossed for Hawkins but he volleyed over from just a few yards out.

Tom Cursons also put a great chance over the bar for the home side ahead of three added-on minutes after the 90.

In a flurry of late chances from a game that had for most parts struggled to excite, Clarke nearly snatched it for Gillingham with a shot that he hit just wide.

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