Gillingham were knocked off the top of League Two as they conceded a last grasp thunderbolt as Doncaster Rovers edged out Neil Harris’ side despite a much-improved away performance. 

The last game on the road was the horror show at Grimsby, but the Gills returned from South Yorkshire this week following a game where Harris’ side had the chances to bring the points back to Kent. 

Early on, the Gills were indebted to Jake Turner who did brilliantly well to deny Mo Faal as the Rovers striker sprinted through.

The home side did lead though shortly afterwards and it was unlucky thirteen in more than one way for the Gills, Max Ehmer was “adjudged” to have played the ball back to Turner giving the home side a free kick inside the Gills box. It was touched to Ben Close who hammered the ball low past the keeper into the net. 

Gillingham responded as skipper Shaun Williams was magnificently denied by Louis Jones, a Conor Mahoney corner dropped to Williams and his pile driver was brilliantly touched onto the bar by the Doncaster keeper.  

Ethan Coleman and Macauley Bonne then both tested the home keeper before the Gills deservedly levelled on the stroke of half time. Another Mahoney corner was not dealt with by the home side as Conor Masterson ghosted in to loop a fine header into the Rovers net. 

The Gills had the best early chance of the second half as Masterson brilliantly managed to knock Scott Malones ball across the box down for Bonne, but the striker could not keep the shot down and it ballooned over the bar. 

Masterson then could not repeat his first half efforts and headed Cheye Alexanders cross over the bar before Turner produced another fine save to keep out Owen Bailey’s effort. 

Into the last ten minutes and Bonne could not convert a great chance from another Malone centre as he could not control the ball and the chance was gone, and how the Gills were made to pay as with just three minutes left Close thumped a sensational winner into the top corner of a despairing Turner’s dive. 

The Gills still created chances into stoppage time but Mahoney and Shad Ogie both could not the ball home and the points were lost. 

Notts County now head the table by a point after nine games and next up for the Gills is arguably their toughest test at Priestfield so far when third placed and unbeaten Mansfield Town visit. 

DONCASTER ROVERS – Jones, Nixon, Bailey, Olowu, Anderson, Molyneux, Biggins (Broadbent), Westbrooke, Close, Marsh (Faulkner), Faal (Ironside) 

Subs – Bottomley, Sotona, Roberts, Goodman 

GILLINGHAM – Turner, Alexander, Masterson, Ehmer (Jayden Clarke), Ogie, Malone, Coleman (Gbode), Shaun Williams (McKenzie), Maloney, Bonne, Nichols (Nadesan) 

Subs – Morris, Max Clark 

REFEREE – Mr Parsons 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC