Substitute Elliott Nevitt’s late diving header ensured that Gareth Ainsworth’s return to Shrewsbury Town didn’t end in defeat as Gillingham grabbed a deserved share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw. 

Nevitt converted a Gareth McLeary cross with just four minutes left on the clock just as an own goal had done in the first half to reduce the home sides early two goal lead.

Shrewsbury though regained their advantage before the break, but under Ainsworth, this Gills side don’t know when they are beaten and after Robbie McKenzie had pulled a second goal back from the penalty spot, the stage was set for Nevitt’s late rescue act. 

The home side squandered a golden early chance after Jake Turner mistakenly picked up a back pass – the resulting free-kick was cleared for a corner and from the corner the home side scored from a long throw.

It dropped to Anthony Scully who’s goal bound ball deflected off George Lloyd stranding Turner and going into the net Palmer-Houlden went close to levelling the score from a Sam Vokes flick before McKenzie crashed an effort into the side netting.

The home side responded as Tom Anderson blazed high and wide but on twenty-five minutes, Luca Hoole beat Turner with a low drive into the bottom corner. 

The response though was instant as McLeary’s deep cross was headed magnificently back over keeper Will Boyle to give the Gills hope – hope was stifled in first half stoppage time as Scully again was the provider playing in Lloyd for his second and Shrewsbury’s third from a tight angle. 

The Gills lost Sam Vokes through injury in the first half and early in the second his replacement Josh Andrews shot wide from a Sam Gale long ball.

The visitors did level twenty minutes into the half as Andrews was fouled and McKenzie coolly slotted hole the spot kick to reduce the arrears to give the visitors optimism and hope. 

Palmer-Houlden had a great chance to level the scores but shot wide from Andrews’s lay off and as time ticked by a Gills point began to look more and more unlikely, but with four minutes left, McLeary angled a ball into the box and Nevitt bravely headed home and Gillingham had their point. 

SHREWSBURY TOWN – Brook, Anderson, Boyle, Stubbs, Hoole, England, Ruffels, Clucas, Kabia (Marquis), Scully (Aneke), Lloyd Subs – Harrison, Benning, McDermott, Sang, Perry 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, Hutton, Gale, McKenzie, Clark (Cirino), Coleman, J. Williams (Khumbeni), McCleary, Dack, Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt), Vokes (Andrews) Subs – Holtam, Akomeah, Rowe 

 REFEREE – Mr. Farmer