John Ward named the same starting eleven for the seventh game in a row at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium as United faced a Gillingham side who had home form to thank for 31 of their 39 points thus far.

United themselves were enjoying an unbeaten run of 11 games, with five of those coming on their travels ahead of the trip in to the Medway basin.

Gills keeper Derek Stillie was at the heart of the early action as United pressed forward from the kick off. Graham won a corner with a deflected shot, following excellent pressing from Grant Smith from a Hackney cross, and the big keeper could only palm that back in to the path of Hackney as it swirled in the wind. His low shot beat Stillie, but Southall was on the line to nod it away. An almighty scramble ensued, and Graham was unlucky as his toe poke allowed Cullip to clear.

Jackson had a half chance when he was released by Miller on 5 minutes, but he shot early, from 22-yards out, and Westwood was able to gather it comfortably at his near post.

Miller made inroads down the right hand side in the 12th minute, as he found some unexpected space in front of the United defence. A curling cross dropped nicely for Simeon Jackson, but his glancing header didn't quite have enough power to take it beyond the diving Westwood.

Nicky Southall fizzed a 23-yarder a foot over the bar as Gillingham started to take a foothold in the game, and Danny Graham did the same at the other end as both sides tried to utilise the unpredictable wind when going forward.

Raven went on the overlap in the 20th minute, sending a fantastic cross in to the box as red shirts arrived in support. Stillie got a hand to it, and Grant Smith was unlucky as his follow up was blocked by Simon King.

Bridge-Wilkinson brought an excellent save from Stillie in the 24th minute when his 22-yard shot took a deflection off King. The keeper had to readjust, and just about managed to get down to push it away from his bottom corner.

Dennis Oli created an opening from nothing in the 28th minute when he tussled for possession and then crossed low, towards the near post. The lively Jackson got there first, but Livesey had shadowed him and was able to prevent the shot.

The Gills thought they'd scored in the 33rd minute when Southall delivered a superb free kick that floated towards the far post. Garry Richards rose highest, and his downward header brushed the outside of the woodwork as it went behind for a goal kick.

Nutter was up in support of the next attack by the blue shirts, and he thumped a Jackson pass through a gaggle of bodies, hoping to catch Westwood out of position. Livesey got a boot to it, directing it in to his keeper's arms.

Crofts was next to worry the goal when he got on to another great ball in from Southall, heading it in to the United fans in the stands as he failed to keep it down.

The home side were on top and Miller was guilty of a poor miss in the 40th minute when a Richards throw bounced in the area and dropped in front of him, just 12 yards out. He found the power, but not the direction, as he sent it over the bar.

The Referee, Mr Ward, appeared to lose focus as half time approached, missing out on a number of key decisions as he chose not to act on some tasty challenges and some choice words from the confused players.

Half Time: Gills 0 - 0 United

Danny Livesey was needed with just 30 seconds on the second half clock as Dennis Oli strode from midfield, right through the heart of the defence. Moving in to the area, he set himself to shoot, and the United captain spoiled his moment with a well timed tackle.

Both sides were up for it, with challenges flying in left, right and centre, and the next opening didn't come until the 55th minute, when Raven crossed in to the box from the right. A half clearance fell for Grant Smith, on the edge of the box, but his volley was scuffed and bobbled wide of the post.

Nicky Southall had a long range effort deflected wide on 56 minutes, but Simeon Jackson had the shot of the day 60 seconds later when he jinked away from Murphy and connected with a real stinger. Westwood was beaten, but the crossbar saved him as it thundered back off the woodwork and away to safety.

The Gills were settling better, but they couldn't find the clear cut chance they craved as they worked hard in front of goal, without the real end product. United reminded them that they could still be a threat in the 67th minute when Hackney broke and found Horwood in space. He put it back to Bridge-Wilkinson, and his cross had just too much on it for Taylor, who put his header well wide.

Gillingham were still looking the more likely to score and Nutter burst from his own half in the 75th minute, putting the visitors on the back foot. His cross was cleared, but the ball was soon back in the Carlisle half, with Jackson the recipient of a neat flick from Oli, 18-yards from goal. He went for the first time shot, and couldn't keep it down as he sent it over the bar.

Grant Smith was inches away from scoring his second goal for the club in the 85th minute when a Raven free kick was cleared only as far as the edge of the box. The midfielder was there, waiting for it, and his volley spun just wide as it flew threw the static defence.

Horwood and Hackney then combined on the left to create space, and the left back watched his cross deflect off Cullip and drop away for a corner.

United pressed for an opening in to time added on, and Bridge-Wilkinson was a matter of millimetres away from snatching it when he caught a 22-yard volley on the full, from a Carlton pass. Stillie was after it, but he could do nothing but watch as it whipped over his bar.

Bookings

Gills - Oli (64)

United - Murphy (61)

Teams 

Gills - Stillie, King, Crofts, Bentley, Southall, Jackson, Oli, Nutter, Miller (Griffiths 78), Richards, Cullip. Subs - Kiely, Stone, Cumbers, Fuller.

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Taylor (Carlton 77), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, G Smith, Hackney, Graham (Dobie 73). Subs - Howarth, Joyce, Arnison.

Away fans - tbc