Harry Smith scored a last-gasp second-half header to deny Gillingham all three points at the County Ground.
The hosts were reduced to ten men on nine minutes after Grant Hall’s late challenge on Tim Dieng.
The midfielder then gave the visitors the lead after 16 minutes. Conor Masterson’s ball over the top of the Swindon defence found Jacob Wakeling, who cut it back for Dieng to slot into an empty net.
Swindon were pressing for a last-gasp goal and found it in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Tunmise Sobowale dinked a cross from the right of the penalty area towards the back post. Smith rose the highest to head beyond Jake Turner.
Mark Bonner made four changes and went for a change of system following the 2-0 defeat to Newport County in midweek.
Gills started with a back five, deploying Remeao Hutton and Jayden Clarke as wing-backs. Shad Ogie returned to the starting XI to make up the three defenders. Euan Williams made his first league start for the Football Club, while Oli Hawkins and Jacob Wakeling led the line in a 5-3-2 formation.
Armani Little and Josh Andrews were named among the substitutes, while Joe Gbode shook off the knock he picked up in midweek to make the matchday squad. George Lapslie missed the game after injuring his ankle in the Newport fixture.
Tim Dieng had the first opportunity in the fifth minute. Hutton opted for a quick throw, which allowed Dieng to latch onto the ball through on goal. He brought it under control before shooting towards the near post. The midfielder’s effort beat Jack Bycroft but went the wrong side of the post, nestling into the side netting.
In the ninth minute, Grant Hall was sent off for the hosts. Dieng had made a pass out to the left before being clattered by a high and late challenge from Hall. The referee initially booked the defender before quickly changing his mind and brandishing a straight red.
The visitors somehow failed to go in front after 14 minutes. Hutton crossed from the right, with his cross behind Hawkins. The forward did brilliantly to angle his header goalward, with it looping and bouncing off the crossbar. It came out to Wakeling, who missed the rebound. The ball then found Hawkins, who blazed wide of the target from eight yards out.
Dieng gave Gillingham the lead a couple of minutes later. Conor Masterson played a ball over the top of the Swindon defence, which Wakeling got on the end of. He carried it into the penalty area before Bycroft came off his line to close the angle. Wakeling then cut it back for Dieng, who slotted into an empty net.
Harry Smith nearly brought Swindon level in the 41st minute. George Cox curled a cross from the left towards Smith, who had come towards the ball. He headed towards the near post with his attempt nestling into the side netting.
Gills went straight down the other end and nearly added a second. Clarke curled a cross from the left, finding Dieng. He directed his header towards the far corner but was denied by Bycroft, who did well to claw the ball away from the goal.
HALF-TIME: Swindon Town 0-1 Gillingham
Jake Turner had to be alert in the opening stages of the second half. Cox curled a cross from the left on top of the Gillingham goalkeeper. As he was setting himself to catch the ball, Ollie Clarke was closing in. Fortunately, Turner was on hand to push it away from danger.
The visitors could have made it two moments later. Hutton did well to win the ball in the corner before carrying it forward, shaking off the challenge of a Swindon player before playing a through ball for Wakeling. The forward brought it towards the goal, with Hawkins and Dieng in support, waiting for the cutback. Unfortunately, he waited a touch too long, allowing Will Wright to recover in time to make the last-ditch challenge.
Euan Williams had a half-chance after the hour. Ethan Coleman made an excellent crossfield pass for Hawkins to get on the end of. He waited for support to arrive before playing it to Dieng, who carried the ball into the penalty area. The midfielder cut it back to the Northern Ireland Under 21 international, who shot first time. Unfortunately, he did not make the right contact with the ball, sending it wide of the target.
There was a moment of panic when Swindon delivered a cross from the right. Turner and Masterson went for the same ball, colliding in the process. However, they managed to deal with the impending danger.
In the 67th minute, Gillingham made their first two changes. Marcus Wyllie and Little replaced Wakeling and Euan Williams.
With 12 minutes remaining, the visitors introduced Jonny Williams into the game, replacing Dieng.
Gills made their final change with seven minutes to go, as Andrews returned from injury to replace Hawkins.
Wright should have done better on 87 minutes. Rosaire Longelo floated a corner towards the back post, finding Wright. He had a free header but was always stretching, as it went well wide of the target.
In the dying moments, Smith equalised for Swindon. Tunmise Sobowale was allowed to get down the right side of the box before dinking a cross towards the back post. Smith rose the highest to squeeze his header into the back of the net.
FULL-TIME: Swindon Town 1-1 Gillingham
Swindon Town: Bycroft, Sobowale, Hall, Wright, McGregor (Freckleton 21’), Clarke (Minturn 56’), Kilkenny, Cox (Longelo 56’), Butterworth (Cotterill 70’), Drinan (Tshimanga 70’), Smith
Unused Substitutes: Barden, Ofoborh
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie, Clarke, Coleman, E. Williams (Little 67’), Dieng (J. Williams 78’), Wakeling (Wyllie 67’), Hawkins (Andrews 83’)
Unused Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Nolan, Gbode
Attendance: 7325 (1105 Gillingham supporters)
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
