Gillingham 0 Cheltenham Town 0

Last updated : 02 February 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Goals are a scarce commodity at Priestfield these days and even Gillingham's £150,000 new signing could not help reverse the current trend.

Both teams came into the game struggling to keep ahead of the relegation scrap in League One but this result did little to help either side.

Mark Stimson's new striker, Simeon Jackson, went close but not close enough, for a side who have now gone three home games without a goal.

An open first half ended scoreless despite a number of good chances for both sides.

Gillingham's best chance came when Adam Miller struck a shot from distance only to see the ball hit the bar.

It had taken Jackson just nine minutes to have visiting keeper Shane Higgs scrambling back towards goal to deny the newcomer from scoring a debut goal after a good initial save.

Cheltenham should have opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time when Steven Gillespie broke forward, but his close-range effort was blocked by defender Simon King.

Gillingham were operating a shoot-on-sight policy but the likes of Delroy Facey, Andrew Crofts and Miller struggled to find their range.

Robins striker Gillespie was a threat throughout and he hit the same piece of woodwork in the second half as he found space and time on the edge of the box.

Substitute Damian Spencer came within an inch of sneaking a late winner for the visitors when he connected to Alex Russell's corner kick, but was unable to turn it in and grab a win for a side that have now lost just once in their last six.

Jackson tested Cheltenham keeper Shane Higgs' hands late on and he also thwarted Miller to deny Gillingham once more and leave their home fans praying for a change of fortune before it's too late.