Gillingham 2 Crawley Town 2: Reaction from Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth as Bradley Dack scores one but has another disallowed

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has spoken of his disappointment at a game-changing moment that went against his team on Saturday.

Bradley Dack had put Gillingham in front, and could have had a second when he headed home Max Clark’s cross, but his effort, early in the second half, was ruled out for offside.

Report: Gillingham 2 Crawley Town 2

Crawley got back on level terms, soon after Dack’s goal was disallowed, and although Robbie McKenzie scored from the spot to restore Gillingham’s advantage, the visitors levelled again late on.

“There was two teams really going at it,” said Ainsworth, in his post-match interview.

“I'm really proud of my boys, but I also give credit to Crawley Town. They've come here and they stuck to their guns.

“I think we forced them into playing not their usual style of football, but their second goal was a class act, and you've got to give credit to that, although we could have stopped it higher up the pitch. We've talked about that in the dressing room.

“One or two of the boys have stood up and gone, ‘I could do better there’ and when I hear the boys saying that in the dressing room, I'm like, ‘this is a good place now. These boys have taken ownership of things’.

“We could have won it at the end as well, with Jonny (Smith) going down the wing and just for the want of a pick-out [in the box] would have been fantastic, but it would have been harsh on Crawley.

“They were very worthy opponents, and I think that [manager] Scott Lindsey, who is a fighter himself, will be very proud of his team not giving up.”

On Dack’s disallowed goal, Ainsworth said: “I’m really disappointed in that header, if I'm honest.

“I think that may have changed the game if we go 2-0 up. I may change formation and try