Late late show at Hayes Lane

Well, that was a proper rollercoaster. For anyone who made the trip to Bromley, you won't forget that one in a hurry. We fought back from being 2-0 down to snatch a point, with Max Clark’s 93rd-minute penalty preserving our seven-game unbeaten start to the season.

It was billed as a massive game – a televised derby between two unbeaten sides in front of a 3,005-strong sell-out crowd – and it definitely didn't disappoint on the drama front.

From Awful to Awesome

Let's be honest, for the first half, we were dreadful. Bromley came flying out of the blocks and hit us twice in the first 12 minutes through Nicke Kabamba and Michael Cheek. At 2-0 down so early, you had to fear the worst. Fair play to Cheek, that was his 133rd goal for them – a new club record – but at that point, it felt like they were on their way to doing us all over again. Even the gaffer, Gareth Ainsworth, said we were "a little bit unrecognisable."

At half-time, Ainsworth clearly had a word. He told the team to stop getting dragged into a scrap and start playing our own game. And what a difference it made. We came out and dominated. Josh Andrews got us back in it with a great header in the 57th minute, and suddenly, it was game on.

Then, deep into injury time, came the moment. Garath McCleary drove into the box and went down. The ref pointed to the spot! They’ll all say it was soft, but after the pressure we'd put on them, we'll absolutely take it. There was a long delay, but Max Clark showed nerves of steel and slammed it down the middle to make it 2−2, sparking absolute scenes among the 481 travelling Gills fans. Did we deserve it? That is up for debate. The final stats showed we had 53% possession and 15 shots to their 16 – it was a classic League Two battle.

Relief, Pride, and a Warning

The feelings on social media and in the stands went from one extreme to the other. At 2-0 down, most of us thought the game was gone. As fan Stuart Lewis said, the comeback showed "unbelievable spirit," and he was spot on.

But there was also a sense that we got away with one. Fan @MJPhippsy summed up the mix of pride and realism perfectly after the final whistle: "Andy Woodman is full of rage again after the controversial penalty. But Gills’ unbeaten record remains in tact and we stay top of the league! We were outplayed today but somehow fought for a point. Gritty Gills." That "gritty" description is exactly right.

In the end, though, the overriding feeling is pride. Matt from GillsInTheBlood called the first half "comfortably our worst 45 minutes of the season so far", which just makes the fightback even better. This point felt like a win.

Man of the Match: The Whole Damn Team

It's hard to pick just one player after a game like that, so the award has to go to the collective spirit of the entire squad. Every single one of them played their part in dragging us back into it.

Max Clark was the hero of the hour with that ice-cool penalty. Josh Andrews never stopped running up front and got that vital first goal. The defence, after a shocking start, really tightened up, including McKenzie making a crucial goal-line clearance in the first half. And you can't ignore the impact of the subs – Garath McCleary won the penalty with his directness and experience. It was the determination of the whole group that earned us that point.

So, the unbeaten run stretches to seven games, and that point keeps us joint-top of the league with 15 points. More than the result, this match proved we have a real never-say-die attitude this season. We've got a free week to recharge before we welcome Notts County to Priestfield next Saturday. After a comeback like that, the team should be buzzing with confidence. Los Geht's Gills!

Written by Rhys - German Gills