Ogogo strike gave Town the leads but late Gills strike saw them share the points
Town: Dean Henderson, Max Lowe, Ben Godfrey, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Abu Ogogo, Carlton Morris, Nathan Thomas, Luke Hendire, Aristote Nsiala.
Subs: Craig MacGillivray, Joe Riley, Mat Sadler, Lenell John-Lewis, Sam Jones, Alex Rodman, Stefan Payne.
Gillingham: Thomas Holy, Luke O’Neill, Max Ehmer, Gabriel Zakuani, Jack Hessenthaler, Tom Evans, Connor Ogilvie, Josh Parker, Ben Nugent, Callum Reilly, Mark Bryne.
Subs: Bradley Garmston, Scott Wagstaff, Conor Wilkinson, Le Martin, Elliot List, Tom Hadler, Franck Moussa.
Referee: Craig Hicks
Assistants: Gareth Mellor and Kevin Morris
Fourth Official: Abbas Khan.
Attendance: 4839 (162).
Team news: Luke Hendrie and Max Lowe are the only changes for the Town side. They are both introduced to the starting 11, replacing Mat Sadler who is on the bench and Jon Nolan who isn’t selected in today’s match day squad due to illness, Joe Riley replaces him on the bench.
Abu Ogogo’s first goal within two years wasn’t enough to seal all three points for Town against the Gills. The 14th minute goal was ultimately cancelled out by a curling effort inside the box by Mark Bryne late on in the game. Both teams share the points, which sees the Shrews back in second place.
First half:
Town started the game brightly and were controlling the play, putting pressure on Gillingham early. Tricky play from Nathan Thomas in the middle of the park dribbling two Gillingham players nearly created chance but the winger couldn’t find a head in the box.
In the 14th minute the Shrews finally capitalised on the initial pressure, captain Abu Ogogo latched onto a driven cross from Shaun Whalley and fired the ball hard and low into the corner of the net, giving he Gills keeper Thomas Holy no chance and Town the lead.
Gillingham got their first real chance six minutes later with corner but Town defended well and Thomas cleared the ball to safety.
Thomas was having a good start to the game and nearly doubled the lead for Town during the midway point of the half with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box, although The Gills managed to get a body in the way pushing the ball just wide of the post.
The first booking of the game was branded to a frustrated Gillingham Number 19 Ben Nugent for a late challenge on Whalley on the 37th minute.
Towards the latter stage of the half, Gillingham were feeling their way back into the game. Some good play from Josh Parker down the left flank opened up an opportunity to cross the ball, however Dean Henderson calmly plucked the ball out of the air, keeping the Shrews one goal advantage intact.
The Shrews remained in control for the rest of the half and limited the chances for Gillingham and dominated the ball, Town went into the break one goal up over the visitors.
Second half:
The first half got underway and shortly after Thomas was given a yellow card as he challenged for the ball but caught Gillingham defender Max Ehmer late on the ankle.
The first ten minutes of the half was lacking any real goalmouth action, Josh Parker had the only chance and lashed the ball wide from outside the box.
The first substitution of the game was made in the 60th minute; Stefan Payne replaced a booked Nathan Thomas.
Town were putting heavy pressure on the Gills with a succession of corners, a great save from Thomas Holy was the only thing preventing James Bolton header from extending the Shrews lead to two.
Gillingham made a change in the 76th minute; Tom Eaves was taken off in favour of Conor Wilkinson.
Town were inches away again from doubling the lead with only ten minutes to go, a free kick was delivered in by Whalley, however nobody could get a touch on the ball other than a Gills defender.
A defensive mistake by the Shrews defence in the box gave Gillingham a perfect chance to level the score line in the 81st minute. A goal by Mark Bryne did just that; a curled shot into the top right hand corner gave Dean Henderson no chance.
Town were putting heavy pressure on Gillingham as the game was drawing to a close, Max Lowe drove the ball forward and earned his side a corner. The ball fell to Abu Ogogo on the edge of the box and Town’s captain volleyed the ball towards the goal, only to be clear of the line.
Shaun Whalley was replaced in the 90th minute by fellow winger Alex Rodman.
The Shrews couldn’t find a late winner and the game ended level on the score line.