Jo Kuffour keeps his opponents at bay Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

A gutsy Gillingham display earned them a point at Oxford on a day when only a win would do.

Mathematically the Gills remain in contention for a play-off place, but their chances took a major blow after Saturday’s League 2 game finished goalless.

The hosts missed a number of good chances and the Gills defended bravely.

Gillingham started the match with four strikers in the side but in the opening half they found it hard to make any impact where it mattered.

Both Danny Kedwell and Jo Kuffour were denied a sight on goal by defender Liam Davis, while Gills’ only shot on target of the half, just before the break, saw keeper Wayne Brown hold onto Kuffour’s shot.

Oxford were posing problems for Gills’ defence but they held out in the opening 45 minutes, but only just.

It took a fantastic save from Paulo Gazzaniga – at full stretch – to deny Asa Hall and then the follow-up from Dean Morgan was cleared off the line by Connor Essam.

An earlier shot from Scott Rendell was deflected wide as the visitors continued to ride their luck.

The Gills were already missing Jack Payne and Danny Jackman, after they picked up injuries during the week, and also lost Gavin Tomlin early in the game after he was on the end of a strong challenge from Andy Whing. The forward had only just returned from an absence through injury.

Gillingham made a positive start to the second half with Rowan Vine looking to link things together in attack. Kuffour tried an early lob that wasn’t going to catch out keeper Brown.

The Gills continued to live life on the edge at the other end and Matt Fish was almost knocked out when he headed away Hall’s thunderous effort just before the hour mark.

Clear-cut chances for the Gills remained few and far between and Vine put one opportunity well over the bar. Chris Whelpdale saw his weak effort easily dealt with by Brown.

Gillingham were defending valiantly as Oxford pressed for the winner but were struggling to create openings themselves. A great challenge from Essam denied sub Oli Johnson as the 641 travelling fans held their breath.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side put some pressure of their own on in the latter stages in what was a tense finale.

In the last minute Whelpdale was put through by Kuffour but his shot was beaten out for a corner by the keeper.

The game ended in controversy when Johnson went down in the box following a challenge from Joe Martin but found himself in the book for a dive, a decision not welcomed by the home crowd.

Gillingham: Gazzaniga, Martin, Fish, Frampton, Essam, Montrose, Whelpdale, Tomlin (Spiller 16mins (O Lee 89mins)), Kuffour, Kedwell, Vine (Oli 73mins). Subs not used: King, Evans.

Oxford: Brown, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Chapman (Constable 70mins), Whing, Hall, Montano (Johnson 60mins), Rendell, Morgan (Tonkin 82mins). Subs not used: Crocombe, Wilson.

Attendance: 7,322