Max Clark levelled from the penalty spot for the second time in two games on Tuesday night.

Clark’s equaliser earned the Gills a point against Colchester United but they deserved all three from a game they dominated for large periods, sadly unable to make it count.

Colchester took the lead against the run of play with a controversial goal, scored by Jack Payne, with the Gills players claiming the ball had gone out of play in the build-up. Gillingham levelled it up from the penalty spot for the second game in a row as Clark converted from 12 yards.

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth, in what was his first home game in charge, made just one change to the team which he started at Harrogate on the Saturday. Leading scorer Jayden Clarke started for the first time in two and a half months, replacing Jimmy-Jay Morgan in the XI.

Play-off hopefuls Colchester United named three former Gillingham players in their defence.

Tom Flanagan - who played a handful of games on loan at the Gills - captained the Us and played along with Jack Tucker, who had made over 100 appearances for the club.

Chatham-born Ellis Iandolo - a former Gills youth player - also started in defence for the visitors. Iandolo and Tucker ended up as a defensive midfield duo after injury-hit Colchester reshuffled early on.

Gillingham started the match with plenty of attacking intent as the U’s struggled to get out of their own half.

Some super balls into the box weren't capitalised on by the Gills’ front two of Joe Gbode and Elliott Nevitt as Colchester defended well.

Gbode poked a good chance wide at the near post but with 20 minutes on the clock the Gills found themselves a goal down, completely against the run of play.

Gillingham defender Sam Gale had moments earlier won a battle to keep Owura Edwards off the ball and came up against the nippy forward again as the ball ran towards the byline.

Rather than clear the danger, Gale tried to shield the ball out of play, Edwards ran around him and played the ball into the centre towards Payne. The Colchester forward crashed the ball past keeper Glenn Morris as the hosts looked to the referee, claiming the ball had gone out of play.

Replays suggested the ball had gone out of play but it wasn’t totally clear and referee James Linington stuck with his decision, despite the protests.

A couple of injuries and subsequent substitutions for Colchester, including one to goalcorer Payne, slowed the game down and the visitors used every other trick to try and take the pace out of the match.

The Gills continued to attack with Robbie McKenzie having a shot that was tipped over and Gbode going close after a determined effort to get a shot on goal.

There was no doubting the effort levels from the Gills and they had bossed possession, with over 60% in the opening half, but once again they were unable to make it count.

Remeao Hutton put an early chance over the bar for the Gills at the start of the second half and Clake fired well wide. Nevitt also stung the hands of the keeper in what was a positive return to action.

Colchester threatened to open the Gills up a couple of times on the break but the Gills continued to dominate, cheered on by an energetic home crowd.

Nevitt had a shot blocked and there were big calls for a penalty when the same player had a cross blocked by the arm of Colchester defender Fiarce Kelleher.

Ainsworth turned to Oli Hawkins with 20 minutes left, the striker replacing Gbode.

With so many balls going into the box, Hawkins was the ideal man to try and make it count. Within moments of being introduced he met a cross but the header was straight at keeper Matt Macey.

It was a foul on Hawkins that led to Linington pointing to the spot and Clark was on hand to convert, going down the middle for his second penalty equaliser in just four days.

Gillingham pushed for the winner, and Masterson was denied by Macey as he shot through a crowded area, but they had to settle for another point. The last chance fell to Masterson but he volleyed over.

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