Gareth Ainsworth’s Gillingham reign starts with a point at Harrogate

Gareth Ainsworth’s tenure as Gillingham manager began with a point on the road at Harrogate.

It was a tale of two penalties at Wetherby Road, with Josh March opening the scoring for the home side from the spot and Max Clark equalising from 12 yards.

Jonny Williams shot wide for Gills early on, before Jack Muldoon drew a decent save out of Glenn Morris at the other end.

March broke the deadlock in the 40th minute after converting from the penalty spot having been brought down by Morris when clean through on goal.

Jasper Moon came close to doubling the home side’s lead early in the second half but was narrowly off target having got on the end of March’s right-wing cross, and Gills pulled level after 68 minutes when they were awarded a penalty of their own.

Oli Hawkins was felled inside the Harrogate box and Clark made no mistake.

Muldoon and March were both denied by Morris as Town pushed to reclaim the lead, with substitute Tom Cursons firing over late on before Gillingham’s Jayden Clarke shot wide in stoppage time.