Adebayo Akinfenwa secured a point for Gillingham as Andy Hessenthaler began his return as manager with an opening day draw against Cheltenham.Wesley Thomas put the Robins ahead after the break when he latched on to Keith Lowe's long ball and fired past Gills keeper Alan Julian.
Second-half substitute Akinfenwa levelled the score when he headed Jack Payne's throw-in past Scott Brown.
The striker almost set up a winner for the Gills but Tony Sinclair fired over.
Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "I'm pleased enough. I am disappointed we have not won the game because we are on our own patch.
"We looked nervous. We got into some good opportunities but we were reluctant to have that final shot.
"We got into that final third and we have to take those opportunities by shooting a bit more, but it will come."
Cheltenham manager Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:"The only disappointment is that we let a lead slip, but the defending was heroic.
"They huffed and puffed and had plenty of corners but despite that, Scott Brown didn't have a save to make."
"We've done well pre-season but it mattered today, there was three points resting on it We've got the first day nerves out of the way and the boys can be pleased with themselves."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Gillingham
1-1
Cheltenham
FT
(HT 0-0)
Akinfenwa 76
Thomas 53
Gillingham
01 Julian
03 Nutter
16 Gowling
29 Sinclair
04 Weston
08 Bentley
12 Palmer (Akinfenwa 54)
17 Spiller
28 Payne
11 Barcham
23 Payne (Rooney 69)
Substitutes
26 Cronin,
18 Jackman,
25 Essam,
07 Maher,
14 Rooney,
09 McCammon,
27 Akinfenwa
Cheltenham
01 Brown
02 Lowe
03 Andrew
06 Riley
22 Elliott
07 Pook
08 Low
11 Smikle
20 Artus yellow card (Melligan 90)
09 Thomas (Bird 71)
10 Goulding (Jeffers 85 yellow card)
Substitutes
12 Lloyd-Weston,
05 Gallinagh,
04 Bird,
14 Melligan,
15 Watkins,
23 Shroot,
21 Jeffers
Ref: CrossleyAtt: 5,655
GILLINGHAM CHELTENHAM
Possession
Gillingham 59%
Cheltenham 41%
Attempts on target
Gillingham 4
Cheltenham 2
Attempts off target
Gillingham 6
Cheltenham 4
Corners
Gillingham 13
Cheltenham 2
Fouls
Gillingham 5
Cheltenham 10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:49 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+4:14 Andy Barcham takes a shot. Scott P Brown makes a save.
90:00+3:08 Booking Sean Jeffers receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+2:59 Sean Jeffers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Bentley. Free kick taken by John Nutter.
90:00+2:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sean Jeffers on Mark Bentley. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
89:54 Substitution John Melligan is brought on as a substitute for Frankie Artus.
88:40 Outswinging corner taken by Luke Rooney from the right by-line.
88:25 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Spiller.
88:01 Andy Barcham takes a shot. Joshua Low gets a block in.
86:06 Effort on goal by Tony Sinclair from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
85:29 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Spiller, Joshua Low makes a clearance.
85:07 Mark Bentley fouled by Sean Jeffers, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Julian takes the direct free kick.
84:14 Substitution Sean Jeffers joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jeff Goulding.
84:14 Luke Rooney has an effort at goal from 35 yards and went wide left of the net.
82:17 Danny Spiller takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Michael Pook.
81:44 Booking Caution for Frankie Artus.
80:29 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Spiller from the left by-line played to the near post, Steve Elliott makes a clearance.
79:16 Corner from the right by-line taken by Danny Spiller, clearance made by Steve Elliott.
78:13 The referee blows for offside against Jeff Goulding. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
77:47 Joshua Low fouled by Curtis Weston, the ref awards a free kick. Keith Lowe takes the free kick.
75:44 The assist for the goal came from Tony Sinclair.
75:44 GOAL - Adebayo Akinfenwa:Gillingham 1 - 1 Cheltenham Adebayo Akinfenwa grabs a headed goal from close in. Gillingham 1-1 Cheltenham.
73:30 The offside flag is raised against Andy Barcham. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
73:07 Jeff Goulding challenges Josh Gowling unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Alan Julian.
71:40 Adebayo Akinfenwa is caught offside. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
71:14 Jeff Goulding is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Alan Julian.
70:14 Substitution Wesley Thomas goes off and David Bird comes on.
69:43 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Danny Spiller.
68:25 Direct free kick taken by Danny Spiller.
68:25 Substitution Luke Rooney joins the action as a substitute, replacing Stefan Payne.
68:25 Unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by Martin Riley results in a free kick.
67:54 Stefan Payne is caught offside. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
65:36 Martin Riley fouled by Stefan Payne, the ref awards a free kick. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
62:16 Shot by Jeff Goulding from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
60:32 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Spiller, save by Scott P Brown.
59:49 Stefan Payne is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Steve Elliott.
56:43 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Spiller, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Tony Sinclair misses to the left of the
goal.
55:38 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Danny Spiller from the left by-line to the near post, Michael Pook makes a clearance.
53:44 Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Adebayo Akinfenwa coming on for Chris Palmer.
52:12 Assist on the goal came from Keith Lowe.
52:12 GOAL - Wesley Thomas:Gillingham 0 - 1 Cheltenham A goal is scored by Wesley Thomas from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Gillingham 0-1 Cheltenham.
51:26 Unfair challenge on Joshua Low by Danny Spiller results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Keith Lowe.
49:56 Curtis Weston has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.
47:47 Unfair challenge on Andy Barcham by Danny Andrew results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Danny Spiller.
46:51 Wesley Thomas has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:59 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+0:50 Shot by Wesley Thomas. Save made by Alan Julian.
44:58 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Palmer from the left by-line, clearance made by Steve Elliott.
42:46 Jack Payne takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.
39:02 Frankie Artus challenges Curtis Weston unfairly and gives away a free kick. John Nutter takes the free kick.
38:00 Effort from outside the penalty area by Jeff Goulding goes wide left of the goal.
36:45 Chris Palmer takes the inswinging corner, Michael Pook makes a clearance.
32:37 Stefan Payne fouled by Steve Elliott, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Spiller restarts play with the free kick.
28:25 The assistant referee flags for offside against Wesley Thomas. Alan Julian takes the free kick.
25:10 Corner from right by-line taken by Chris Palmer.
21:01 The referee blows for offside. Scott P Brown takes the direct free kick.
18:10 Andy Barcham takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.
16:16 Corner taken left-footed by Danny Andrew from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Andy Barcham.
15:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stefan Payne on Brian Smikle. Steve Elliott takes the direct free kick.
14:53 Handball by Wesley Thomas. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
14:20 Stefan Payne is ruled offside. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
13:24 Effort on goal by Curtis Weston from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
12:23 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Danny Andrew, Mark Bentley makes a clearance.
7:58 Foul by Danny Andrew on Andy Barcham, free kick awarded. Chris Palmer delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from
right wing.
6:11 Josh Gowling fouled by Jeff Goulding, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan Julian.
1:50 Danny Andrew takes a shot.
0:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Bentley on Jeff Goulding. Direct free kick taken by Frankie Artus.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport