A goal either side of half-time saw Gillingham slip out of the League Two Play-off places as the long trip to Barrow ended in a 2-0 defeat.
Coming off the weekend’s win over Salford, the Gills headed even further North on Tuesday night into deepest Cumbria, but this time, it was ninety minutes too far for Stephen Clemence’s side as they and their magnificent 160 fans returned to Kent pointless.
Clemence named the same side for the third game running and with a very tight contest predicted, the opening half hour was certainly as close as everyone expected.
A marker of what was to come came as early as the fourth minute when Cole Stockton absolutely upended Jonny Williams with a viscious tackle, but was lucky to only see yellow rather than red.
Emile Acquah brought the first save of the night from Glenn Morris whilst the home side went close again before just before the break, the Gills back line was breached for the first time in nearly five and a half hours of League Two play.
James Chester though did look possibly offside as he volleyed home Robbie Gotts’ free kick that had been helped on by George Ray.
The Gills could not get going as an attacking entity and were indebted to Morris for a really fine low save to deny Kian Spence after Dean Campbell had played the Barrow man in.
Morris though could do nothing on fifty-five minutes as Emile Acquah let fly from nearly thirty yards and his drive flew into the Gillingham net.
Clemence would have been frustrated with his side’s performance and it took Remeao Hutton to give the first test of the night to home keeper Paul Farman from distance.
Shad Ogie came close late on to grabbing his second goal in consecutive games but did not really trouble Farman as the home side climb to sixth whilst the Gills slip to ninth.
In the end though, one of the talking points of the night for Gillingham fans will have been the way Hutton and Conor Masterson squared up to each other on 96 minutes. Both were booked for their part in what is both unnecessary and doesn’t show unity within the camp.
After two long road trips, it’s back to home sweet home at the weekend when Tranmere Rovers come to Priestfield in a fight for points at the other end of the table…
BARROW – Farman, Ray, Chester, Canavan, Warren (Stephenson 72), Spence (Whitfield 82), Campbell, Gotts (Ogungbo 82), Newby, Acquah (Telford 82), Stockton (Foley 72).
Sub not used – Lillis.
Goals: Chester (40), Acquah (55).
Booked: Stockton (4), Spence (9), Campbell (66).
GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie, Max Clark (Malone 60), Dieng, Coleman (Shaun Williams 60), Jonny Williams (Jayden Clarke 72), Nadesan (Mahoney 60), Hawkins (Walker 73).
Subs not used – McKenzie, Turner.
Booked: Coleman (39), J Williams (66), Masterson (96), Hutton (96).
REFEREE – Mr Scott Tallis
Attendance: 3044 (168 Gills).
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.