Dennis Oli scored a 90th-minute equaliser to keep Gillingham’s League 2 play-off hopes alive at Bristol Rovers on Friday.

Chris Whelpdale fired home for the Gills early in the second half but it was all-square four minutes later when Eliot Richards headed home for Rovers.

The hosts went 2-1 up with 81 minutes gone through Mustapha Carayol but substitute Oli levelled in the last minute.

Gillingham spurned a number of good chances in the opening half with Danny Kedwell having a penalty saved.

That chance came after 25 minutes when Danny Woodards was penalised for handball, after blocking a shot from Gills’ leading scorer Kedwell.

Kedwell, who had scored seven spot-kicks from eight attempts already this season, saw his low drive saved by keeper Scott Bevan. The Rovers number one then reacted well to block the follow-up from Rowan Vine.

QPR loan striker Vine was making his first start for the club since arriving from the Premier League side. His strike partner Kedwell had earlier had another good chance, after Craig Stanley had given the ball away, but he put the effort over the bar.

Bevan almost undid his good work after spilling a shot from Lewis Montrose but was lucky enough to block the rebound as Danny Jackman followed in.

Rovers’ best efforts fell to lively winger Carayol. He smashed a 20-yard effort over the bar early on and saw Paulo Gazzaniga get behind another long-range effort soon after.

The first chance of the second half fell to Rovers’ Matthew Lund but Gazzaniga got down well to save the shot.

The deadlock was broken 10 minutes into the second half when Kedwell picked out Whelpdale on the edge of the box and the midfielder found the top corner.

Gillingham had the lead for just four minutes when Matt Gill crossed for fellow substitute Richards and he headed home from close range.

Rovers had big shouts for a penalty turned down when Connor Essam made a challenge on Matt Harrold in the box. The striker went down but referee Dean Whitestone waved away the protests.

At the other end the Gills had a couple of half chances that failed to test Bevan. Andy Frampton’s glancing header went wide and Whelpdale’s shot looped well clear of the goal.

With just under 10 minutes left Carayol burst through the Gills defence and placed a low shot past Gazzaniga to put the hosts ahead.

Gazzaniga had to make a last minute save to deny Carayol again and the Gills immediately went up the other end where Oli was on hand to loop a header over Bevan infront of the 383 travelling fans.

Oli almost set up a winner for Kedwell in stoppage time but a desperate defensive clearance ensured the ball stayed out.

Gillingham: Gazzaniga, Martin, Fish, Frampton, Essam, Jackman (Oli 86mins), Whelpdale, Payne, Montrose (Spiller 71mins), Kedwell, Vine (Miller 79mins). Subs not used: Evans, O Lee.

Bristol Rovers: Bevan, Woodards (Smith 54mins), Bolger, Parkes, Paterson (Gill 43mins), Sawyer, Stanley, Lund, Zebroski (Richards 46mins), Harrold, Carayol. Subs not used: Brown, Dorman.

Attendance: 6,160.

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Gillingham celebrate Chris Whelpdale's opener at Bristol Rovers Picture: Barry Goodwin