Gillingham had to settle for a point from an entertaining League 2 encounter that they did enough to win.
Jayden Clarke’s opener came after an encouraging start by the Gills but Luke Young equalised from a superbly struck free-kick and George Miller headed Cheltenham in front. George Lapslie came off the bench to make it 2-2 and the woodwork denied fellow substitute Bradley Dack at the death.
Gillingham were looking for a third straight win in the league, and looked good for it after an impressive start, but they let it slip and it needed substitute Lapslie to come in from the cold and draw the match.
Remeao Hutton replaced youngster Harry Webster as the only change from the team which started against MK Dons in the previous match.
The Gills were facing an improving Cheltenham side that had, understandably, taken a while to settle to life in League 2 after relegation and a massive turnaround in players.
Ex-Gills player Michael Flynn oversaw 19 signings during the summer.
Gillingham were superb in the opening exchanges but lacked the same swagger once they got a goal ahead.
Clarke hit the opener on 24 minutes – his seventh of the season – and it was well deserved, the Gills winger pouncing on the ball after keeper Joe Day had been unable to keep hold of Elliott Nevitt’s low effort.
The Gills had started the game attacking with pace and purpose, Nolan in the middle directing things with Hutton and Clarke looking lively too. There were promising signs but once the goal came, Cheltenham worked their way back into the match.
An equalising goal came from a free-kick, well hit by visiting captain Young, whipping in the ball to the far post where it went over Morris and in off the post.
Aaron Rowe forced Day into a save late in the half, which he managed to push away, but it was all square at the break – the Gills wishing they’d made more of their dominant start.
Gillingham were on top again at the start of the second half and Robbie McKenzie put a couple of efforts narrowly wide of the mark after twice being teed up by Rowe, the second one beating keeper Day but also the upright.
Cheltenham had barely threatened in the second half but found themselves 2-1 ahead with an hour played. Tom Bradbury’s cross from the left was met by Miller, who got away from the defenders to nod the ball home unchallenged.
The Gills got level again on 68 minutes. Bonner had switched things around after Cheltenham’s second, introducing Lapslie, and he struck the equaliser.
Lapslie wasn’t even in the squad the week before at MK Dons but made a positive impact on Friday night, meeting Nevitt’s ball in to score.
Day saved from Clarke, as the Gills forward looked to add to his impressive tally with a powerful low shot, and once again the keeper failed to hold on but Lapslie was unable to capitalise.
Dack could have won it for the Gills in stoppage time, when Day punched Shad Ogie’s deep cross into the path of the midfielder, but the ball back in bounced off the crossbar.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton (Ogie 87mins), Clark, Masterson, Ehmer, Coleman (Andrews 87mins), McKenzie, Nolan (Dack 70mins), Rowe (Lapslie 62mins), Clarke, Nevitt. Subs not used: Turner, J Williams, E Williams.
Cheltenham: Day, Jude-Boyd (Dulson 79mins), Bradbury, Bakare, Stubbs, Kinsella, Young, Thomas, Colwill (Payne 56mins), Archer, Miller (Taylor 79mins). Subs not used: Evans, Laing, Bowman, Pett.
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5,938 (113 away)
