Gillingham surrendered a first-half advantage at Chesterfield as the midweek League 2 match ended level.
Elliott Nevitt scored Gillingham’s opener for the second game running but Will Grigg equalised for Chesterfield after the break.
Gillingham went into the League 2 fixture having drawn their previous five games, including three under recently appointed manager Gareth Ainsworth. Tuesday’s game also finished level.
While Ainsworth was using the final games of the season to see who was up for a challenge under him next term, hosts Chesterfield were desperate for points to keep alive their play-off hopes for the current campaign – dented with a weekend 4-0 loss at Tranmere.
Ainsworth continued to take a look at different players, opting to hand Aaron Rowe a first start since Boxing Day, while birthday boy Joe Gbode – who turned 20 on the day and was making his 50th appearance – and Jonny Williams were both back in the eleven.
Gillingham scored an early goal at the weekend and almost conceded one after just 45 seconds at Chesterfield after a mix-up between keeper Glenn Morris and defender Remeao Hutton.
Dylan Duffy capitalised, and did well to get an angled shot on target, but Sam Gale brilliantly chested the ball clear as it headed goalwards.
Gale had the measure of Duffy on the night, winning tackles, headers and skirmishes against the Chesterfield forward, who was the first man replaced for the home side.
Nevitt had opened the scoring for Gillingham on 14 minutes.
Rowe picked up a loose ball and played it back for the Gills striker, who worked some space with a touch to take it beyond defender Kyle McFadzean, and then found the bottom corner.
It was a frustrating half for the home side, unable to conjure up another shot in the half after their first-minute effort. Home boss Paul Cook found himself in the book for his protests over the way referee Martin Woods was handling things.
Woods was the referee who sent off Shrewsbury striker John Marquis off after just 13 seconds a month earlier, when Ainsworth was still the manager of the League 1 side.
The Gills were winning their battles and getting the decisions from the referee.
They might have added a second through Nevitt, as he met Armani Little’s corner at the back post, but the header went just wide. It was a lot closer than Max Clark’s volley that hit the underside of the roof in the big home end.
Rowe looked to be enjoying a rare start with an all-action performance, claiming the early assist, winning a corner and several tackles to win back possession. He’d also got another attack going earlier in the half which led to Jonny Williams having a shot blocked.
Rowe tested the home keeper early in the second half with a low shot that followed a spirited run. Ryan Boot showed a safe pair of hands.
Chesterfield looked threatening after the restart with Kyle McFadzean having a shot blocked from a corner and Michael Olakigbe missing a good opportunity from close-range.
The referee also started to win the home fans over by penalising Nevitt early on after a shove on a defender and issuing a booking to Gale.
Gbode shot narrowly wide for the Gills with an hour gone, as he out-muscled his marker, but the home side were seeing more of the ball and forcing the visitors to retreat deeper into their own territory.
Ainsworth switched Rowe for Jack Nolan – making his first appearance under the new boss – to give his team some fresh energy off the bench.
Chesterfield had a great chance to level with a free-kick on the edge of the box, following Remeao Hutton’s trip on Armando Dobra, but Liam Mandeville’s effort went over the bar.
The pressure paid off for Chesterfield on 77 minutes as Grigg fired home to make it one apiece, converting Ryan Colclough’s low cross.
Home substitute Colclough came close to a winner with a rasping volley across goal that wasn’t far wide.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Gale, Masterson, Ogie, Little, J Williams (McKenzie 79mins), Rowe (Nolan 68mins), Nevitt, Gbode (Morgan 86mins). Subs not used: Holtam, E Williams, Agbinone, Hawkins.
Chesterfield: Boot, Mandeville, Gordon, Palmer, McFadzean (Grimes 68mins), Fleck, Metcalfe (Dobra 68mins), Duffy (Colclough 67mins), Olakigbe, Madden (Banks 80mins), Grigg (Pepple 87mins). Subs not used: Thompson, Naylor.
Referee: Martin Woods
Attendance: 7,810 (340 away)
