SWINDON Town were left to praise a well-earned point at Priestfield as they put the shackles on promotion-chasing Gillingham this afternoon.

Despite weathering a torrent of pressure in tricky conditions during the opening stages, Luke Williams’ side contrived to produce a resolute defensive display, halting the slide with a fine goalless stalemate to remedy two successive defeats going in to their trip to Kent.

After missing his team’s midweek defeat at Port Vale due to a head injury sustained against Barnsley a few days earlier, Town were boosted pre-match by the return of top-scorer Nicky Ajose, who returned to partner Jonathan Obika up top.

Defender Jordan Turnbull was also back in Williams’ line-up following his hamstring niggle, meaning that Michael Doughty was back in midfield after his impressive central defensive cameo at Vale Park, with Jeremy Balmy and Jermaine Hylton dropping to the bench.

However, there were no places for injured duo Raphael Branco and Louis Thompson, who is yet to make his Swindon return after rejoining the club on loan from Norwich City at the end of the January transfer window.

Turnbull deflected Rory Donnelly’s early effort over the bar and with just four minutes on the clock, the same two players were involved as the hosts came within a whisker of taking the lead.

The swirling wind saw a long ball bounce viciously and after Swindon’s Turnbull slipped, striker Donnelly was in on goal but his attempted side-foot finish pinged against the outside of the post, letting Town off the hook.

The Gills continued to use the unforgiving elements to their advantage as they piled the pressure on Williams’ troops and in the ninth minute, they had appeals for a spot-kick waved away by referee Andy Woolmer after marauding full-back Ryan Jackson went down in the box when challenged from behind by Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill.

But the visitors did eventually manage to weather the literal and figurative storm and began to get hold of the ball, with Obika turning on a throw-in and lashing an effort against the side-netting just past the 20-minute mark.

In the 30th minute, Bradley Dack followed suit as he failed to beat Vigouroux at his near post but the Town goalie was soon called into action moments later as he was forced to claw Josh Wright’s long-range strike over the crossbar.

But despite all of their early dominance, the frustration soon set in for the hosts as Swindon continued to defend manfully and two minutes before the break, they almost stole an unlikely lead as Ajose got in down the left of the area and squared for strike partner Obika but he saw his effort turned behind by a despairing Max Ehmer.

Williams’ charges began the second half on the front foot, with Anton Rodgers going for the spectacular as he flicked the ball up before hitting an audacious volley goalwards but Gillingham goalie Stuart Nelson gathered comfortably.

The two teams then began to cancel each other out, although Nathan Thompson was forced to cut out a dangerous cross from Dack after Kasim’s attempted cross-field ball was seized upon.

With 77 minutes on the clock, Bradley Barry whipped a delicious cross from the right flank that found Ajose unmarked at the far post but the Town striker couldn’t angle his header on target.

Up the other end, Dack shot straight at Vigouroux before Obika had a pop from outside the Gillingham area, only for his strike to loop wide of the goal, with keeper Nelson stranded.

The home supporters were getting ready to celebrate a late winner as John Egan unleased a fierce strike three minutes from time but his effort flew wide of the post as the spoils were shared.

SWINDON TOWN: Lawrence Vigouroux, Bradley Barry, Nathan Thompson (C), Jordan Turnbull, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Yaser Kasim (James Brophy 83), Anton Rodgers (Ellis Iandolo 61), Michael Doughty, Fabien Robert (Lee Marshall 77), Jonathan Obika, Nicky Ajose.

Subs not used: Tyrell Belford, Jeremy Balmy, Jermaine Hylton, Josh Cooke.

Attendance: 6,398 (260 away supporters)