A controversial officiating decision denied Gillingham a comeback League 2 victory at home against Tranmere on Saturday.

Midfielder Tim Dieng thought he had won it at the death but saw his effort ruled out for handball, as the away side attempted to clear their lines.

The play-off chasing Gills did get a point, with Conor Masterson cancelling out Regan Hendry's early opener as it finished 1-1 after a real match of two halves. It means Gillingham remain unbeaten at home in the league since Boxing Day and they are now seventh.

The game got off to a quick start in front of a crowd of 6,077 at Priestfield.

Striker Ashley Nadesan sent a Remeao Hutton free-kick narrowly wide for the hosts after it had been headed across goal before Rovers’ captain and top scorer Connor Jennings fired an effort from a low left-wing cross straight at Gills goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

But the away side broke the deadlock in the fifth minute when a right-wing delivery by Lee O’Connor was half-cleared only as far as Hendry. The midfielder fired in off Morris’ left-hand post to spark jubilant scenes among the 207 fans who had made the mammoth journey from Birkenhead.

Good keeping by the vastly-experienced Morris prevented Harvey Saunders having a great chance to double Tranmere’s lead on 19 minutes, as he rushed out to deny Saunders. Soon after, Blackpool loanee Rob Apter blasted over.

But the Gills almost levelled midway through the half. Dieng met a Max Clark cross, only for Frenchman Dieng to see his header fall inches wide of visiting goalkeeper Luke McGee’s left-hand post.

Oli Hawkins was next to go close for Stephen Clemence’s side, testing McGee with a 35th-minute header from a Jonny Williams cross.

Just before the interval, Clark curled a free-kick against the crossbar after home skipper Max Ehmer had blatantly been shoved to ground, the half-time whistle being greeted with boos by Gills fans.

The hosts made a double half-time substitution, which saw Nadesan and Shadrach Ogie replaced by midfield duo George Lapslie and Connor Mahoney.

Those changes almost swiftly paid dividends after forward Luke Norris fired wide against his old club, as Hawkins glanced Clark’s cross over.

Apter then really should have doubled the away team’s advantage at the far post, however his wild shot was off target.

A sustained period of Gillingham pressure followed as they pushed hard for an equaliser and Masterson delivered a fierce 63rd-minute long-range shot that flashed inches wide.

Jordan Turnbull found space at the other end from a high free-kick two minutes later, only to shoot straight at Morris.

Norris came off in Rovers’ first switch on 73 minutes to be replaced by midfielder Paul Lewis while Clemence threw on Scott Malone and Josh Walker for the final 15 minutes.

An in-swinging cross by Mahoney, who had played well since he came on, caused lots of problems. But Rovers survived several penalty appeals amid a goalmouth scramble before Jonny Williams blasted wide.

Gillingham finally grabbed a deserved equaliser seven minutes from time, though. Masterson powerfully headed a Mahoney corner past a helpless McGee for his sixth goal of the season.

With the away side keen to run down the clock, goalkeeper McGee was booked for time-wasting in the last minute of normal time as five minutes of injury time were added.

Hawkins almost won it in the 93rd minute but his header from Mahoney’s in-swinging delivery flashed narrowly wide.

Moments later, Tranmere’s Hendry almost got a dramatic second, with his effort from the edge of the box crashing against the post.

The Gills then thought they had won it with the final action.

A cross from the left was bundled home by Dieng after an attempted clearance by the away defence, only for Gills’ late second to be dramatically disallowed, much to the home contingent’s dismay as Gillingham players and staff surrounded referee James Linington at the full-time whistle.

Surprisingly, Gillingham named an unchanged starting line-up from Tuesday’s 2-0 loss at Barrow.

Norris, who was with the Medway club from 2014 until 2016, started for the away team.

Gills head coach Clemence had been ill but was well enough to take his place in the dug-out.

Gillingham: Morris, Clark (Walker 77mins), Masterson, Ehmer, J.Williams, Nadesan (Mahoney 46mins), Hawkins, Coleman (Malone 77mins), Ogie (Lapslie 46mins), Hutton, Dieng. Subs not used: Turner, S.Williams, McKenzie.

Tranmere Rovers: McGee, O’Connor, Turnbull, Hendry, Norris (Lewis 73mins), Merrie, Jennings, Saunders (Dennis 80mins), Yarney, Apter (Taylor 80mins), Wood. Subs not used: Murphy, Mcalear, Pike, Belehouan.

Referee: James Linington.

Attendance: 6,077 (207 away fans).