Wycombe Wanderers let slip a two-goal lead as they drew 2-2 away to Gillingham at a freezing Priestfield Stadium in their League One clash.

It all looked good for a dominant Wanderers before the break as goals from Adam El-Abd and Nathan Tyson put them 2-0 to the good at the break.

However, the Gills fought back in the second half as goals from Tom Eaves and Josh Parker gave the Gills a point they didn’t look like getting after 45 minutes of this match.

Wanderers made a bright start to proceedings with some early hold-up play involving Alex Samuel and Jason McCarthy resulting in a corner which was cleared.

The Blues almost took the lead on eight minutes with two efforts. Firstly, Samuel’s clever flick released Fred Onyedinma, who saw his shot blocked by keeper Tomas Holy.

The ball then came out to Samuel and his goalbound volley was deflected just over.

Wycombe were well on top early on and Bryn Morris came so close to giving his side the lead, with his shot deflected just wide after good work from Dominic Gape.

From the resulting corner, Gillingham failed to clear their lines and El-Abd thumped home a volley from 15 yards on 12 minutes to give Holy no chance.

The Gills were rocked by that goal and five minutes later the home side conceded a second when Tyson struck with an emphatic finish after more hassling from Samuel and Onyedinma.

Gillingham are barely presented a threat with top scorer Eaves nullified early on by El-Abd and Sido Jombati.

Wanderers looked hungry for more goals and Onyedinma cut in from the right hand side and saw his shot loop into the grateful arms of Holy on 22 minutes.

The home side had their first effort on 26 minutes when Parker’s piledriver was smartly parried away by Stephen Henderson.

Steve Lovell’s men were gradually establishing a foothold in the game and Elliott List saw his shot superbly blocked by Dominic Gape on the half-hour.

List was probably Gillingham’s best player in the opening 45 minutes and his cross-shot nearly went in via the aid of the wind on 43 minutes but went onto the roof of the net.

Darren Oldaker was close to pulling one back on the half-time mark from all of 35 yards but Henderson got across superbly to tip the ball wide.

The Chairboys made a lightning start to the second half and Onyedinma had a brilliant opportunity to make it 3-0 on 46 minutes but Holy made a great save to deny him.

Wycombe were certainly in the mood for more goals and El-Abd saw his header easily held by Holy on 48 minutes from Joe Jacobson’s free kick.

However, out of nowhere, Gillingham pulled one back through top scorer Eaves on 55 minutes as he finished coolly past Henderson from eight yards.

Wanderers had a superb chance to make it three on the hour when Holy could only parry Morris’ firm strike back into the danger zone but Samuel blazed over from 10 yards.

The Blues were beginning to get their grip back on this contest and the tireless Samuel almost scored a backheel on 66 minutes from Tyson’s dangerous cross.

Wycombe nearly scored a fortuitous goal on 72 minutes when Gape’s fierce cross-shot hit the back of Onyedinma’s head. The ball trickled towards goal and went inches wide with Holy struggling.

Gillingham came back and Jombati heroically blocked List’s shot wide for a corner on 74 minutes.

From the resulting corner, an unmarked Parker nodded home Dean Parrett’s delivery from six yards to stun the visitors.

Wanderers were still searching for a winner after being rocked by that Parker leveller and still looked the more likely side to get that late goal.

Parker had an excellent opportunity to win the game for the home side but his snap-shot went well wide on 88 minutes after good work from Brandon Hanlan.

Substitute Randell Williams himself almost fired home a winner for the Blues but his rasping curler from 20 yards was magnificently saved by Holy on 89 minutes.

Wycombe will be ruing the chance to get another win but still remain well placed in League One.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Henderson, McCarthy, El-Abd, Jombati, Jacobson, Gape, Thompson, Morris, Tyson (sub: Williams, 75), Samuel, Onyedinma. Subs: Yates, Stewart, Mackail-Smith, Kashket, Cowan-Hall, Freeman.

GILLINGHAM: Holy, Fuller, Zakuani, Lacey, Ogilvie, Parrett, Oldaker (sub: Garmston, 46), Byrne, List (sub: Hanlan, 85), Eaves, Parker. Subs: Hadler, O’Neill, Rees, Charles-Cook, Bingham.

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone