Oli Hawkins - players.bio

Gillingham had new signings on show at Priestfield but needed a goal from defender Conor Masterson to rescue a point.

Walsall had gone in front from the penalty spot after an hour through Isaac Hutchinson but Masterson was on hand to equalise when the ball dropped to him inside the box.

Gillingham hadn’t beaten Walsall in any of their previous eight games at Priestfield, the last coming in 2007 thanks to a Gary Mulligan double. They struggled to look like winning the latest meeting between the sides at Priestfield, chasing the game after conceding a penalty in the second half. The Gills looked much-improved after equalising but had to settle for a point from this one after a 1-1 draw.

Josh Walker made his home debut for the Gills - one of four signings in the January transfer window - but Watford loan man Jorge Hurtado was named among the subs and giant striker Josh Andrews wasn’t in the squad, still carrying an injury from his time on loan at Accrington.

It was two of those recent signings that combined to create an early opportunity for the Gills as Remeao Hutton’s perfectly weighted ball into the path of Walker was a chance the striker couldn’t make the most of.

Walker was also second best to the Walsall defence later in the half as Scott Malone also looked to play the striker in with a fine ball forward. Aside from that, however, the Gills struggled.

Oli Hawkins nodded wide from Hutton’s cross in a half of football that struggled to ignite for the hosts. Visiting keeper Owen Evans - who the Walsall fans didn’t seem a fan of on social media - had little to do in those first 45 minutes.

Walsall made it difficult for the Gills to play it out from the back and were well organised across the park. Had Josh Gordon been

Conor Masterson Luke Cawdell Scott Malone Oli Hawkins Medway Sport