Gillingham avoided a third straight league defeat as substitute Elliott Nevitt scored an equaliser with almost the last kick against Cheltenham Town.

The Gills had 30 attempts at goal against the lowly visitors, but just couldn’t make it count, Cheltenham making them pay as Sam Sherring scored an 87th-minute winner. Gills got it back to 1-1 in the fifth and final minute of stoppage-time to at least claim a point as Nevitt smashed home.

Gillingham had switched things up in attack as Sam Vokes and Seb Palmer-Houlden - declared fit after a midweek injury scare - were both handed their first league starts for the club.

Gills had been forced into one change with Josh Andrews missing through suspension, while Elliott Nevitt dropped to the bench.

The new-look forward line had plenty of chances at goal in the first half, Palmer-Houlden forcing a save from the visiting keeper in the opening seconds and Vokes putting a chance wide.

There were numerous chances for the Gills before Cheltenham started to get involved after over half an hour had been played.

Palmer-Holden headed a chance wide, Ogie went the same way and Vokes was denied by keeper Joe Day with a header from a corner.

Vokes headed over from Remeao Hutton’s long throw and put another at the keeper while Palmer-Houlden fired wide.

All those chances came to nothing and the visitors almost made them pay with a couple of quickfire efforts. Luke Young missed the target on 34 minutes - Cheltenham’s first attempt of the game - before Gills keeper Glenn Morris saved well moments later to deny Ethon Archer.

A bullet header from Ogie was straight at Cheltenham’s grateful keeper and just before the break Cheltenham almost snatched a goal.

Ogie’s underhit pass inside the box gave away possession to Young and he rolled the ball into Hutchinson’s path. The Cheltenham man once scored a hat-trick against the Gills for his old club Walsall but the post denied him this time, with Morris beaten.

Max Clark had a couple of attempts at goal for the Gills in the early stages of the first half but neither were close to the target.

Jonny Williams lifted a cross/shot over the goal with an hour gone and also clipped the top of the bar from a corner kick.

Robbie McKenzie’s glancing header also went wide of the mark as the Gills just couldn’t make their chances count. Clark had another opportunity at goal, finding the target but not being able to beat the keeper.

Elliott Nevitt had a chance shortly after replacing Palmer-Houlden but from Vokes’ knockdown he couldn’t get enough on the shot.

The Gills were keeping the pressure on but a rare break for Cheltenham saw Hutchinson shoot wide.

Cheltenham had been on the backfoot for most of the game but took the lead on 87 minutes when Hutchinson smashed an effort off the crossbar and Sherring was there to finish past Morris.

Gillingham equalised on 95 minutes when Nevitt crashed home an equaliser.

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark (Cirino 87mins), Ogie, Gale, A Smith, McKenzie, Coleman, J Williams (Dack 81mins), Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt 71mins), Vokes (Wyllie 81mins). Subs: Turner, Akomeah, Khumbeni.

Cheltenham: Day, Jude-Boyd, Wilson, Young, Martin (Thomas 60mins), Bickerstaff (Taylor 68mins), Hutchinson, Archer (Kinsella 89mins), Sherring, Stevenson, Tomkinson. Subs: Diallo, Harmon, Power, Broom.

Referee: Alex Chilowicz

Attendance: 6,038 (143 away)