Gillingham 1 Barnet 1: League 2 match report from Priestfield Stadium

A superbly hit free-kick by Bradley Dack clinched Gillingham a point at home against Barnet.

Dack equalised for the Gills at the end of a tough first half, which had seen Callum Stead open the scoring for Barnet and Ryan Glover have one cleared off the line. Gillingham were the better side in the second half but couldn’t turn their superiority into three points.

Gillingham have now gone five league games at Priestfield without a win.

There was no Andy Smith in the team, which meant Sam Gale and Robbie McKenzie taking the central defensive roles in a 4-1-4-1 system.

Seb Palmer-Houlden returned from a game out injured to lead the Gills attack.

Edgar Davids was in charge of Barnet the previous time they were visitors to Priestfield, winning 1-0 against a Gills side who would finish the season going up as champions back in the 2012/13 season..

It was Barnet who had the better of the opening half on Saturday but it was all square at the break after Dack levelled, scoring his fifth of the season.

Stead had given Barnet the lead after converting an Idris Kanu cross from close-range.

Gills had appealed for a foul in the build-up after Kanu had got the better of Max Clark.

There was more frustration moments later when Palmer-Houlden got clear of defender Nik Taveres and in on goal but referee Ben Atkinson signalled for a foul on the Barnet man.

Lee Ndlovu had volleyed a good chance over the bar for Barnet and Senior came close to converting a Kane Smith cross at the far post.

It took the Gills half an hour to register a chance on goal when Dack had a shot blocked by the visiting keeper. Dack then showed his defensive awareness at the other end to clear Ryan Glover’s goalbound effort off the line.

Gillingham got back level in the