Walsall FC 1 Gillingham 1 - match report and pictures

The striker scored both goals for the Gills – including a stoppage time equaliser – in December's 2-2 draw at Priestfields.

And after Febian Brandy had put the Saddlers ahead early in the second half, he made sure the Kent side took a share of the spoils when he levelled six minutes from time.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the hosts, who dominated the second half and hit the post through Craig Westcarr.

Dean Smith's men will again be kicking themselves after failing to make their domination count.

Not for the first time this season, they only took a point from a game in which they deserved more as a result.

The Saddlers line-up included returning top scorer Westcarr from suspension and a fit-again Milan Lalkovic. Mal Benning was also included at left-back in place of Andy Taylor, who dropped to the bench along with James McQuilkin and James Baxendale.

Despite scoring his first goal for the club in Friday's 1-1 draw at Carlisle there was no place in the starting line-up for Michael Ngoo.

The hosts might have snatched an early lead were it not for the alertness of visiting defender Leon Legge, who headed over his own bar with Romaine Sawyers ready to pounce on a Lalkovic knockdown.

But after that bright opening, the first half settled into a rather featureless affair which might have had supporters checking the date to see there were indeed watching a game in April, and not July.

The first effort on goal did not arrive until two minutes before the break when Febian Brandy's shot was deflected a yard over the bar, to ironic cheers.

Westcarr then might have put the hosts ahead but headed straight at Nelson from a strong Lalkovic cross as the Saddlers briefly upped the tempo.

Benning was alert to block a Chris Whelpdale shot after he had given the ball away early in the second period.

Having rarely threatened, the Saddlers then came close to breaking the deadlock three times in a minute.

First Nelson denied Brandy at close range after he had spilled Westcarr's initial effort. Brandy was then a studs length away from connecting with a James Chambers cross, before Andy Butler headed over a Westcarr corner.

Brandy then did break the deadlock ten minutes into the half when he converted the rebound after Nelson had parried a fierce Westcarr drive.

Steven Gregory drove over for the Gills from distance, while substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa headed Jake Hessenthaler's corner wide.

Westcarr was then within inches of making it 2-0 when he crashed a shot from 25 yards off the base of the post with Nelson well beaten.

The keeper was also relieved to see a Lalkovic shot fly inches wide of the upright after a strong run by the forward.

But just like December's game between these sides, there was a sting in the tale and once again it was McDonald who delivered it. The forward brought down a long ball and exchanged passes with Akinfenwa before lashing a shot past O'Donnell.

Westcarr drove straight at Nelson and Lalkovic blazed over in stoppage time but this was another day of frustration for Smith's men.