Gillingham came from behind to lead against play-off chasing Walsall but they couldn’t hold on.
Walsall led at the break through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, and although goals from Ronan Hale and Seb Palmer-Houlden put the Gills ahead, the hosts levelled through substitute Daniel Kanu.
The home side were enjoying some good form before the visit of a Gills team who had lost their previous five, but it ended all-square on Friday.
There was just one change to the Gillingham starting line-up as Nelson Khumbeni returned to the XI. Striker Josh Andrews dropped out after a run of 21 games without a goal.
Ainsworth had talked ahead of the game about giving other youngsters a chance after the success of Harry Waldock.
Louie Dayal, 18, was back again from his loan at Sheppey – named on the bench days after his first-half hat-trick for the academy side in their 6-1 win over Bromley’s youngsters.
Gillingham competed well during the opening 20 minutes and went close to scoring from a corner when home keeper Myles Roberts denied Khumbeni after he headed Max Clark’s corner goalwards.
But it was from a simple cross that the hosts took the lead. Courtney Clarke sent a cross into the middle where Loupalo-Bi managed to divert the ball past Glenn Morris with some part of his face, sending the ball looping past the Gills keeper.
Those were the only two on-target efforts of the half as both sides struggled for clear-cut chances.
Ronan Hale was playing up top with Seb Palmer-Houlden and Gareth McCleary either side of Bradley Dack in support. Hale had a shot blocked and there were some half-chances but nothing really of note.
Referee William Davis ignored Gillingham’s penalty appeal late in the half after Khumbeni went down in the box after contact. The Gills went in at the break still arguing their case.
Walsall started brightly in the second half, and Jamie Jellis stung the hands of the Gills keeper as the hosts looked for an all-important second goal, but it was all-square five minutes after the restart.
Hale combined with Palmer-Houlden and then McCleary to fire home his fourth goal since joining the Gills – completing a decent attacking move – and his 16th of the season.
The Gills went ahead in farcical circumstances as home keeper Myles Roberts collided with a defender as he went to claim Dack’s cross into the box and Palmer-Houlden was on hand to score.
Three minutes after taking the lead, the Gills found themselves back level when Mason Hancock’s corner was scrambled home, Kanu claiming the goal after Morris had initially saved from Harrison Burke.
Morris denied Aaron Pressley with 20 minutes left and the Gills switched their forward line around to try and get a winner, with Andrews replacing Palmer-Houlden.
Dack went close late on for the Gills as he stabbed a shot at goal but it was blocked by a defender and keeper Roberts made a desperate clearance as Andy Smith looked to pounce.
Walsall’s last chance came from a free-kick, conceded after Sam Gale handballed. Albert Adomah shot wide.
Neither could find the winning third goal and the Gills will be the happier after ending their losing run against an in-form Walsall.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, A Smith, Gale, Waldock (J Williams 82mins), Khumbeni, McCleary, Dack, Palmer-Houlden (Andrews 69mins), Hale. Subs not used: Turner, Akomeah, Vokes, Cirino, Dayal.
Walsall: Roberts, Hancock,Burke, Farquharson, Loupalo-Bi (Adomah 74mins), Comely, Clarke, Pressley, Jellis (Kanu 64mins), Pattison (Lakin 39mins), Browne. Subs not used: Hornby, Flint, Harper, Okeke.
Referee: William Davis
Attendance: 5,994
