Dennis Oli headed a last-minute equaliser for play-off chasing Gillingham at Bristol Rovers.

Danny Kedwell saw his first-half penalty saved by home goalkeeper Scott Bevan in the first half.

But the visitors took the lead when Kedwell set up Chris Whelpdale to fire home from the edge of the box.

A header from Elliot Richards and a solo effort by Mustapha Carayol put Rovers in front, before substitute Oli netted a late leveller for the Gills.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent:

"We deserved to win the game; first half we were outstanding on the worst pitch I've ever seen at a league club.

"It needs to be looked into because players are going to get serious injuries, players are falling down holes and it's not right.

"That's probably the best we've played on our travels for a long time. We missed a penalty and had other opportunities, so we're disappointed but we were outstanding today.

"If we hadn't got anything out of the game it would have been a travesty."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Bristol Rovers

  • 01 Bevan
  • 03 Sawyer
  • 04 Woodards (Smith - 54' )
  • 05 Bolger
  • 37 Parks
  • 06 Stanley
  • 17 Paterson (Gill - 43' )
  • 23 Lund
  • 09 Harrold
  • 11 Carayol
  • 26 Zebroski (Richard - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Smith
  • 14 Brown
  • 08 Gill
  • 34 Dorman
  • 18 Richard

Gillingham

  • 28 Gazzaniga
  • 03 Frampton
  • 12 Martin Booked
  • 16 Fish Booked
  • 18 Jackman (Oli - 86' )
  • 22 Essam
  • 07 Whelpdale
  • 08 Payne Booked
  • 19 Montrose (Spiller - 71' )
  • 09 Kedwell
  • 23 Vine (Miller - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Evans
  • 17 Spiller
  • 37 O Lee
  • 11 Oli
  • 31 Miller
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 6,160

Match Stats

Shots

9 11

On target

7 5

Corners

3 6

Fouls

8 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:05 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:42

The referee blows for offside against Mustapha Carayol. Paulo Gazzaniga restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:31

Eliot Richards takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

90:00 +1:36

The ball is delivered by Dennis Oli, Danny Kedwell takes a shot. Blocked by Cian Bolger.

90:00 +0:55

The ball is sent over by Ashley Miller.

89:25

The assist for the goal came from Paulo Gazzaniga.

89:25 Goal scored

Goal - Dennis Oli - Bristol R 2 - 2 Gillingham Dennis Oli scores a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Bristol Rovers 2-2 Gillingham.

88:56

Mustapha Carayol has an effort at goal. Save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

87:52

Joe Martin sends in a cross, save by Scott Bevan.

86:25

Short corner taken by Craig Stanley from the right by-line.

86:15

Centre by Mustapha Carayol, blocked by Dennis Oli.

85:41 Substitution

Substitution Dennis Oli replaces Danny Jackman.

81:45

Eliot Richards crosses the ball, clearance made by Andy Frampton.

79:52 Goal scored

Goal - Mustapha Carayol - Bristol R 2 - 1 Gillingham A goal is scored by Mustapha Carayol from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 2-1 Gillingham.

79:36

The ball is delivered by Joe Martin, Scott Bevan makes a comfortable save.

78:33 Substitution

Substitution Rowan Vine goes off and Ashley Miller comes on.

78:13

Short corner taken by Mustapha Carayol, A cross is delivered by Craig Stanley.

78:06

Centre by Michael Smith, Danny Jackman gets a block in.

74:47

Connor Essam challenges Matt Harrold unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Stanley.

73:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Smith by Rowan Vine. Cian Bolger takes the direct free kick.

73:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Spiller on Matthew Lund. Free kick taken by Scott Bevan.

73:09

Rowan Vine delivers the ball, clearance by Mathew Gill.

72:14

Chris Whelpdale produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

71:22

Cian Bolger fouled by Danny Kedwell, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michael Smith.

70:34 Substitution

Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Danny Spiller coming on for Lewis Montrose.

70:03

Connor Essam fouled by Matt Harrold, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

69:26

The ball is crossed by Danny Jackman, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Andy Frampton misses to the right of the goal.

68:53

The offside flag is raised against Matt Harrold. Direct free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

68:16

Unfair challenge on Craig Stanley by Lewis Montrose results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mathew Gill.

66:49

Unfair challenge on Rowan Vine by Cian Bolger results in a free kick. Connor Essam crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Gary Sawyer.

65:54

Short corner taken by Danny Jackman from the left by-line, Joe Martin sends in a cross.

64:17

The ball is delivered by Matthew Lund.

64:09

A cross is delivered by Mustapha Carayol.

60:50

Cian Bolger restarts play with the free kick.

60:50 Booking

Booking Jack Payne is shown a yellow card.

60:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Payne on Eliot Richards.

59:10

Tom Parkes restarts play with the free kick.

59:10 Booking

Booking Matt Fish is shown a yellow card.

58:58

Matt Fish gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mustapha Carayol.

58:11

Mathew Gill provided the assist for the goal.

58:11 Goal scored

Goal - Eliot Richards - Bristol R 1 - 1 Gillingham Eliot Richards grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty box. Bristol Rovers 1-1 Gillingham.

58:07

Mathew Gill delivers the ball,

57:18

Unfair challenge on Matt Harrold by Andy Frampton results in a free kick. Mathew Gill takes the direct free kick.

56:58

The ball is delivered by Mustapha Carayol, clearance by Joe Martin.

56:13

Effort from the edge of the area by Danny Kedwell goes wide of the right-hand post.

55:12

The assist for the goal came from Danny Kedwell.

55:12 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Whelpdale - Bristol R 0 - 1 Gillingham Chris Whelpdale grabs a goal from just inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 0-1 Gillingham.

54:55

Centre by Joe Martin,

54:15

Matt Harrold gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Connor Essam. Free kick taken by Connor Essam.

53:39 Substitution

Substitution Dan Woodards goes off and Michael Smith comes on.

52:18

Unfair challenge on Matt Harrold by Andy Frampton results in a free kick. Craig Stanley restarts play with the free kick.

51:26

Joe Martin sends in a cross, clearance made by Gary Sawyer.

50:37

The referee gives a free kick against Matt Harrold for handball. Paulo Gazzaniga restarts play with the free kick.

49:51

Shot from 18 yards from Matthew Lund. Save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

48:54

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dan Woodards by Rowan Vine. Mathew Gill takes the free kick.

48:38

Danny Jackman concedes a free kick for a foul on Dan Woodards. Free kick taken by Matthew Lund.

47:36

Corner taken right-footed by Craig Stanley, save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

47:29

Centre by Matthew Lund, Jack Payne gets a block in.

46:24

The ball is swung over by Danny Kedwell.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Eliot Richards replaces Chris Zebroski.

45:00 +2:17 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

42:12 Substitution

Substitution Mathew Gill is brought on as a substitute for James Paterson.

42:05

The ball is swung over by Rowan Vine, clearance by Craig Stanley.

41:58

Chris Whelpdale sends in a cross, Tom Parkes makes a clearance.

41:13

Matt Fish delivers the ball.

40:46

Rowan Vine takes a shot. Save by Scott Bevan.

40:27

Lewis Montrose takes a shot. Save by Scott Bevan.

39:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Kedwell by Tom Parkes. Free kick crossed by Danny Jackman, save by Scott Bevan.

38:53

Mustapha Carayol has a volleyed shot. Paulo Gazzaniga makes a save.

37:25

Foul by Andy Frampton on Chris Zebroski, free kick awarded. Craig Stanley crosses the ball in from the free kick, Andy Frampton makes a clearance.

37:05

The ball is crossed by Rowan Vine, save by Scott Bevan.

35:08

The ball is sent over by Mustapha Carayol, Andy Frampton makes a clearance.

34:32

Jack Payne delivers the ball, Scott Bevan makes a save.

33:07

The assistant referee signals for offside against Danny Kedwell. Scott Bevan takes the indirect free kick.

27:30

Outswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman, save made by Scott Bevan.

27:14 Penalty

Penalty taken by Danny Kedwell is saved by Scott Bevan. Bristol Rovers 0-0 Gillingham.

25:24

Dan Woodards is adjudged to have handled the ball.

24:55

Danny Kedwell has a drilled shot. Matt Harrold gets a block in.

23:49

Matt Harrold challenges Lewis Montrose unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

21:32

The ball is crossed by Craig Stanley, save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

20:59

A cross is delivered by Craig Stanley, clearance by Matt Fish.

18:54

Corner taken by Joe Martin, Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Whelpdale misses to the left of the target.

18:46

A cross is delivered by Rowan Vine, Cian Bolger gets a block in.

18:21

Craig Stanley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Kedwell. Connor Essam takes the direct free kick.

17:23

The referee blows for offside against Mustapha Carayol. Free kick taken by Connor Essam.

16:36

Corner taken by Danny Jackman played to the near post, clearance by Craig Stanley.

13:23

Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Lund from right channel.

13:23 Booking

Booking Joe Martin is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

13:10

Joe Martin challenges Dan Woodards unfairly and gives away a free kick.

11:15

Danny Kedwell has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

10:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rowan Vine on Dan Woodards. Free kick taken by Cian Bolger.

9:52

Lewis Montrose delivers the ball, Dan Woodards manages to make a clearance.

9:44

Matt Fish delivers the ball, clearance by James Paterson.

9:28

Unfair challenge on Rowan Vine by Craig Stanley results in a free kick. Joe Martin takes the direct free kick.

7:41

Shot on goal by Mustapha Carayol from just inside the area goes over the target.

7:23

Chris Zebroski challenges Joe Martin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paulo Gazzaniga takes the direct free kick.

7:05

Mustapha Carayol takes a shot. Blocked by Rowan Vine.

6:48

Mustapha Carayol takes a shot. James Paterson gets a block in.

4:40

A cross is delivered by Mustapha Carayol, clearance by Joe Martin.

4:35

Mustapha Carayol crosses the ball, Chris Whelpdale gets a block in.

2:24

The ball is crossed by Rowan Vine, Scott Bevan makes a save.

1:52

Danny Jackman takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Gary Sawyer.

1:19

Connor Essam challenges Matt Harrold unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Craig Stanley.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association