Tranmere Rovers picked up a point away at Gillingham, following a 1-1 draw in Kent.

Regan Hendry opened the scoring with a beauty of a strike early on, controlling the ball in the box and volleying in off the post after four minutes. 

However, the hosts piled on the pressure in the second half and got level with six to play, Conor Masterson heading in from a corner. 

Tranmere have jumped above Swindon Town to 17th, while Gillingham move back into the Play-Off positions. 

It was an action packed first half which started with good chances for both sides. First, Ashley Nadesan headed wide for the hosts before Connor Jennings could only find Gills ‘keeper Glenn Morris with an effort from close-range. 

However, Rovers were quickly in front in spectacular fashion. Lee O’Connor’s cross from the right was headed out to Hendry, who controlled the ball with his chest and volleyed against the inside of the post, the ball eventually nestling inside the side netting. 

Gillingham seemed to be rocked by the early blow and Tranmere looked to double their lead at the earliest opportunity. Jennings flicked a low corner towards goal but couldn’t find the target. 

Goalscorer Hendry slipped a delightful ball in for the chasing Harvey Saunders, who tried to touch it beyond Morris but the home ‘keeper got a crucial foot in to deny him. 

Rob Apter fired over after some neat build-up play before Gills managed to find their feet in the contest, Tim Dieng finding room in the box but heading wide of the far post with Luke McGee rooted to his spot. 

The Rovers stopper was on hand to keep out Oli Hawkins’ close-range header with ten minutes of the half to play, as the visitors had to weather the storm for a period of time. 

However, it was Tranmere who ended the first period the better, Apter cutting inside and curling wide seconds prior to the whistle. 

Gillingham controlled the majority of the second half, though Rovers opened with a good opportunity as Luke Norris hit the side netting. 

Connor Mahoney entered the action at the break and led the Gillingham fightback, his shot kept out by McGee before Hawkins headed over. 

Apter found himself in space in the box but sliced an effort wide, before Mahoney and Masterson both had shots blocked at the other end. 

Jordan Turnbull slid in to make a vital clearance on the line as clock hit 60. It was all Gillingham, with Rovers desperately trying to maintain their one-goal advantage. 

However, with six minutes of regular time to play, the hosts finally hit back as Masterson headed beyond McGee from a corner. 

Tranmere nearly won it in added time when Hendry smashed the post from range but were forced to settle for a point at Priestfield. 

GILLINGHAM: Morris, Clark (Malone 77’), Masterson, Ehmer (c), J. Williams, Nadesan (Mahoney 46’), Hawkins, Coleman (Walker 77’), Ogie (Lapslie 46’), Hutton, Dieng 

SUBS NOT USED: Turner, S. Williams, McKenzie 

TRANMERE ROVERS: McGee, O’Connor, Yarney, Turnbull, Wood, Apter (Taylor 81’), Merrie, Hendry, Saunders (Dennis 81’), Jennings, L. Norris (Lewis 73’) 

SUBS NOT USED: Murphy, McAlear, Pike, Belehouan 

ATTENDANCE: 6,077 (207 Tranmere) 

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