Gillingham 0-0 Walsall: Saddlers settle for goalless stalemate

Jamille Matt saw his header from point-blank range excellently saved by Glenn Morris on the cusp of half-time after previously being denied by the Gillingham goalkeeper earlier in the half. 

Gillingham had a late chance to steal all three points when Elliott Nevitt was fed inside the box by Jacob Wakeling but Sam Hornby denied him with a smart save.

Second-place Bradford City closed the gap behind leaders Walsall to a single point after beating Colchester United 4-1 at Valley Parade although they remain six points ahead of fourth spot.

Mat Sadler made five changes to the team which began the Saddlers' 2-2 draw against Bromley at Hayes Lane last week. 

Nathan Asiimwe deputised for the suspended Connor Barrett to make his first league start for the club. Harry Williams, Ryan Stirk, Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah were also recalled. 

Walsall were without five players due to international call-ups while Ellis Harrison missed out with a hamstring problem. The game also came too soon for Birmingham City loanee George Hall who is on the brink of making his comeback. 

Gillingham started on the front-foot and drew an early save from Sam Hornby when the Walsall goalkeeper plunged to his right to keep out Armani Little's free-kick.

Glenn Morris produced a pair of saves in quick succession to deny Matt and Jamie Jellis. Matt stole the ball from Conor Masterson and set Adomah racing away down the left. 

Adomah squared for his strike partner inside the box but Morris bravely dived at Matt's feet to thwart him. Jellis kept the attack alive but was denied once again by the Gillingham shot-stopper. 

Masterson headed into the top corner for the hosts midway into the first half but saw his goal chalked off after Robbie McKenzie pushed Matt off the ball. 

Matt came even closer just before the break after Asiimwe scooped an inviting cross into the box but Morris produced an excellent reactive save to repel his header from point-blank range.

Gillingham midfielder Jimmy-Jay Morgan tried his luck from range immediately after the restart and unleashed a powerful effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Charlie Lakin went for an even more audacious effort when he stole the ball on the left touchline and attempted an audacious 35-yard lob which nearly dipped into the net.

Sadler introduced Levi Amantchi for the final 20 minutes and the Walsall striker came agonisingly close to connecting with Asiimwe's flashing cross into the six-yard box.

Hornby preserved Walsall's fourth successive draw on the road with a crucial late stop to thwart Elliott Nevitt. Substitute Jacob Wakeling broke down the right and squared for Nevitt but Hornby stayed on his feet to keep the Gills attacker out.

Brandon Comley and Danny Johnson were brought on as the contest wore on before Birmingham loanee Alfie Chang was handed his debut from the bench in stoppage time. 

Chang bent a finish wide of the far post during nine minutes of injury time but Walsall were ultimately unable to find a winner.

Next, Walsall welcome third-place AFC Wimbledon to Bescot in a crucial battle in the League Two promotion race next Saturday.

Teams

Gillingham (3-4-1-2): Morris; Smith, Masterson, Gale; Hutton, Little, McKenzie, Clark; Morgan (J Williams 70); Gbode (Wakeling 83), Nevitt.

Unused: Turner, Ehmer, Corness, E Williams, Hawkins.

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Hornby; McEntee, Williams, Weir; Stirk; Asiimwe, Jellis (Comley 83), Lakin (Johnson 83), Allen; Matt (Amantchi 70), Adomah.

Unused: G Barrett, Daniels, Browne.

Referee: Andrew Humpheries

Attendance: 6,153 (395)