Elliott Nevitt helps reveal Gillingham quality in Gareth Ainsworth's absence - it was needed | OneFootball

Gillingham's hard-working striker epitomises the team's refusal to give up, with his goal against Cheltenham highlighting the team's fighting spirit.

Gillingham's unbeaten run may have come to an end, but their never-say-die spirit remains undimmed, as evidenced by their last-second equaliser against Cheltenham.

Gillingham's unbeaten streak of 21 league games came to an end on September 27 when they lost 1-0 to Harrogate Town at Priestfield, but bigger news followed when it was revealed that manager Gareth Ainsworth was stepping away for a few weeks to undergo heart surgery.

The condition, which had been flagged by a routine League Managers' Association check-up during the off-season, necessitated surgery, which has since been reported to have been successful. But, while the gaffer has been off duty, assistant boss Richard Dobson has stepped in. And, while he would have loved a full squad to work with, a host of injuries to significant figures on the Gills' roster left him having to improvise and adapt his team selections a little.

Centre half Conor Masterson was out with a long-term injury, while skipper Armani Little, wingers Garath McCleary and Jonny Smith, and a knock to playmaker Bradley Dack all made life tricky for the stand-in Gills boss. Throw in the suspension to target man Josh Andrews, and it's trickier still.

It meant that Dobson had to tweak his team selection as the Gills looked to bounce back. But after 69 minutes at MK Dons, the Gills were 3-0 down and looking in disarray.

Positivity and spirit continue to shine through for Gillingham

Gillingham went on to lose that game at Milton Keynes, but not until they'd mounted a late fightback, with Seb Palmer-Houlden and Jonny Williams making the scoreline respectable. More importantly, they showed that while Gillingham had temporarily lost their manager and a host of key names, they hadn't lost their fighting spirit.

The following league game saw the Gills return to Priestfield to face early-season strugglers Cheltenham Town. And, in a largely one-sided game, they battered the visitors as they created chance after chance. But crucially, they didn't put those chances away, and after a couple of warnings earlier in the game, they were eventually punished by an 87th minute goal as Cheltenham took the lead.

It looked like being "one of those days" fans of lower-division football are used to seeing – games where a team dominates, but is punished with a sucker-punch goal against the run of play that steals away the points. But as we've noted on this site previously, this Gillingham side is made of different stuff.

Despite the gut punch of a goal three minutes from time, Gillingham continued to push forward and, in the last minute of stoppage time, striker Elliott Nevitt, on as a late substitute, got a second bite at the cherry after his initial shot was blocked and smashed a low shot into the far corner.

In truth, given the balance of play and chances created, the 1-1 draw still represented points dropped for the Gills. But in context, after falling behind with just three minutes to go, Nevitt's goal was celebrated almost like a winner.

Elliott Nevitt personifies Gillingham's attitude

It seemed like poetic justice for Nevitt to be the man who finally made the breakthrough for Gillingham. The former Crewe and Tranmere striker's work rate has earned plenty of plaudits and respect from the Gills fanbase, but he's struggled to find the net at Priestfield, and his place in the starting lineup was starting to be a matter of debate among the Gills faithful.

Against Cheltenham, he found himself on the bench for the first time this season, with summer signing Palmer-Houlden replacing him in the starting lineup. Without a goal to his name, and dropped from the team, it would have been easy for Nevitt's head to drop. But when he came on, he showed the same passion and endeavour that the fans have come to expect. And when the team desperately needed a goal, it was Nevitt who provided it.

It was just desserts for Nevitt, whose commitment to the Gillingham cause has never been in question. The only thing missing from his game so far this season has been goals. But, much like the team he represents, Nevitt has refused to give up, and has kept on plugging away.

That attitude earned Gillingham a point at home, and gave Nevitt his first goal of the season. Both outcomes give plenty of hope to the Gills fans, who are eagerly awaiting the return of Ainsworth in the coming weeks. And with the team continuing to run themselves into the ground in a bid to turn losses into draws, and draws into wins, hopes are high that the Kent club will still be in a healthy position in the table when the gaffer eventually makes his return.