An 89th-minute equaliser from Nassim El-Gourja earned the Under-18 a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Gillingham on Saturday.

The Town led at half-time thanks to Sam Anderson’s powerful left-foot drive and looked in control against the Gills.

However, a whirlwind of a second half started with two goals in the first five minutes of the restart. After the Gills equalised, Lloyd Asamoah Junior restored the lead on 49 minutes, rolling home from the edge of the box after the visitors’ goalkeeper and centre-half had collided.

Gillingham levelled for the second time when the Town failed to deal with a ball into the box at the back post and then led after the Hatters conceded a soft penalty.

But Joe Deeney’s side were back on level terms when Asamoah-Junior squared for El-Gourja to slide home with a minute left on the clock to make it three apiece.

The Town then needed a smart save from Cai Hockey deep into injury time to preserve a point ahead of two matches against AFC Wimbledon.

Town: Hockey, Harvey, Evans, Fox, Emery, Kwame Anson, Passley-James, Sene-Richardson, Anderson, Trustram, Asamoah Junior.

Subs: Barnes, Thomas, El-Gourja, Takawira, Akinfenwa.