Gillingham scored after just 90 seconds on Saturday but were made to settle for yet another draw.
Elliott Nevitt opened the scoring early on, Salford responded with goals from Cole Stockton and Kelly Nmai, before Remeao Hutton leveled for 2-2 after just 25 minutes. It was the first time this season the Gills had scored more than one goal away from home.
It’s now three draws from three games for new boss Gareth Ainsworth and a fifth in a row for the Gills.
Ainsworth made three changes to his Gillingham starting line-up as Shad Ogie started in central defence in place of the absent Andy Smith, out presumed injured.
Ainsworth also returned captain Armani Little to the team, at the expense of Jonny Williams, while Oli Hawkins was picked upfront ahead of Joe Gbode. On the bench, Palace loanee Asher Agbinone came back into the squad after injury.
The Gills opened the scoring with less than two minutes played. Max Clark played a forward ball to Nevitt, who cut into the box and unleashed a powerful effort that went in off defender Liam Shephard.
Gillingham’s lead didn’t last long. Just eight minutes had been played when Ben Woodburn crossed for Stockton, who got ahead of Sam Gale at the near post to score from close range.
Salford scored their second after 12 minutes when Nmai was allowed time and space on the edge of the box to fire home past Gills keeper Glenn Morris.
Morris came close to scoring himself on 20 minutes as his free-kick, deep in the Gills half, caught the wind and bounced over home keeper Matty Young. Unfortunately for the visitors the ball just went over the bar.
The Gills did get back on level terms and it was Hutton who made it 2-2. He cut out a clearance from Luke Garbutt and then scored with a fine finish, bending the ball beyond the reach of keeper Young.
Salford had the chances to retake the lead as Ossama Ashley headed over, Stockton forced a save from Morris and Curtis Tilt also cleared the crossbar with a header.
Gills reached the break on level terms, with defender Gale subject of a late challenge from Nmai that earned the Salford man a booking, a foul that came moments after Stockton had thrown him to the floor after play had stopped, without punishment.
Tyrese Fornah fired over for Salford early in the second half and Morris had to get down to save from Ben Woodburn.
Jonny Williams was the first of the substitutes to be introduced for the Gills with just over an hour gone and Joe Gbode wasn’t far behind. The hosts had been looking the more likely to find the net again.
Former Gills loan winger Hakeeb Adelakun miscued an effort wide for the hosts as they continued to pressure Morris’ goal.
Both team were going into challenges full-blooded with Williams on the end of a heavy one from Garbutt that earned the home player a booking. Stockton finally went into the book in stoppage time.
Gills striker Joe Gbode smashed a shot over the bar towards the noisy away fans late on and Tom Edwards did likewise for the home side. Matthew Lund headed over the last chance of the game for Salford as the match fnished level.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Masterson, Ogie, Gale, McKenzie, Little, Clarke (J Williams 64mins), Nevitt (Agbinone 90mins), Hawkins (Gbode 72mins). Subs not used: Holtam, E Williams, Rowe, Morgan.
Salford: Young, Nmai, Mnoga, Shepherd (Edwards 85mins), Tilt, Garbutt, Ashley, Fornah, Woodburn (Lund 82mins), Adelakun, Stockton. Subs not used: Jones, Longelo, Warrington, Austerfield, Wright.
Referee: Will Finnie
Attendance: 2,914 (403 away)
