Scorer Danny Kedwell congratulated by Bradley Dack. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham stretched their lead at the top of League 2 to five points following a 1-1 draw at Rochdale.

George Donnelly put the hosts ahead early in the first half, but Danny Kedwell levelled the scores after the break.

The Gills had struggled to impose themselves, but were far improved after the interval and an equaliser was well deserved.

They finished the game with 10 men, however, after Andy Frampton was sent off for violent conduct during a scuffle with just a minute of normal time remaining.

The draw, Gillingham’s third in a row, made it 13 unbeaten in the league away from Priestfield.

There was just one change to Gillingham’s starting XI as Anton Robinson came in to replace Michael Richardson, who looks like he has now returned to Newcastle following a loan spell.

Back in the matchday squad, following their omissions for the weekend's game at Morecambe, were Steven Gregory and Adam Birchall.

The Gills – backed by 163 travelling fans – had a couple of early chances for Matt Fish and Joe Martin, but neither troubled home keeper Josh Lillis.

It was Rochdale who looked the more dangerous early on, although it wasn’t until a goal from nothing by Donnelly that they awoke from a slow start.

A ball forward wasn’t dealt with by Leon Legge and, with Stuart Nelson off his line, Donnelly produced a great finish as he lobbed the Gills keeper from 20 yards with 12 minutes played.

Soon after the Gills received another blow as Chris Whelpdale limped off injured, to be replaced by Charlie Lee.

The best of their first-half chances fell to Kedwell, but he volleyed a knock-down from Antonio German narrowly wide.

Having gone all season without trailing away from home in the league at half-time until Saturday's game at Morecambe, the Gills found themselves in the same predicament for the second time in four days.

But they came out firing in the second half and an early shot from Kedwell, at an acute angle, forced Lillis into making a good save at his near post. A second later a cross from Bradley Dack was only fractionally too quick for Legge, who was steaming in.

Fish went close with a header from a Dack corner as the Gills continued to put the pressure on the hosts and it paid off on 56 minutes when Lee sent Fish scampering away down the right flank and, from his cross, Kedwell headed home for his 13th goal of the season.

German then had a good chance to put the Gills ahead, from a Deon Burton through-ball, but Lillis saved. Almost immediately Bobby Grant came close to putting Rochdale back in front.

Chances were falling to both teams in the latter stages and although the Gills dominated much of the second half, Rochdale came into it as the game neared its conclusion.

With a minute left a challenge from Donnelly on Lee saw players from both teams square up and Frampton was sent off following a shove on Grant.

Rochdale: Lillis, Cavanagh, Cansdell-Sherriff, Kennedy, Edwards, McIntyre, Grant, Rose, Thompson, Henderson (Grimes 64mins), Donnelly. Subs not used: Rafferty, Barry-Murphy, Collis, Haworth, Allen, O’Connor.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Martin, Legge, Barrett, Frampton, Whelpdale (Lee 23mins), Robinson, Dack (Allen 61mins), Kedwell (Burton 65mins), German. Subs not used: Forecast, Davies, Gregory, Birchall.

Attendance: 1,551.