Gillingham 1 Doncaster Rovers 1: Forrester breezes in as Rovers stay in top six

Harry Forrester scored a stunningly audacious wind-assisted long-range free-kick that was quickly cancelled out by John Marquis’s header for the hosts just before the break.

Rovers, who brought in James Coppinger for the injured Paul Keegan, struggled to get to grips with the gusty wind and lacked their usual composure, particularly in the attacking third.

Rovers had an early chance when Reece Wabara struck a low ball across the face of goal but neither Nathan Tyson nor Dean Furman was able to turn it in.

Andy Butler headed away from under his bar and before the break he rose at the other end to meet a deep free-kick but turned his far-post header wide.

But Rovers were ahead moments later when Forrester went for goal from 40 yards and his free-kick dipped over Stuart Nelson and just under the bar.

Forrester had only been on the pitch for five minutes after replacing the injured Coppinger.

Three minutes later Gillingham were level when Stephen Bywater was caught out by the wind as Doug Loft’s free-kick headed for goal and Marquis darted in to turn the ball home.

Bywater thwarted Marquis after the break and Forrester wasted a gilt-edged opportunity 14 minutes from time before Marquis missed the target in stoppage time.

Gillingham: Nelson, Hoyte, Egan, Ehmer, Martin, Pritchard (Aaron Morris 25), Loft, Hessenthaler, Dack (McGlashan 83), Marquis, McDonald (Norris 74). Unused substitutes: Legge, Glenn Morris, Galbraith, Dickenson.

Doncaster Rovers: Bywater, Wabara, McCullough, Butler, Stevens, Razak (Bennett 58), Furman, Wellens, Coppinger (Forrester 34), Main, Tyson (Robinson 76). Unused substitutes: McCombe, Marosi, Ikpeazu, Middleton.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).

Man of the match: John Marquis.