Gillingham’s mini winning run came to a shuddering halt at Priestfield on Tuesday night as Blackpool’s solitary shot on target took the SKYBet League One points back to the North West.

After a blank first half in which Connor Ogilvie crashed a shot against the frame of the Blackpool goal, the visitors registered the game’s only goal with their only shot of the night when former Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso headed home.

Try and they might to create something, Tom Eaves and co drew a blank after two home games of goals, goals and more goals.

The Gills were forced into one change from the weekend’s win over Fleetwood as Billy Bingham’s ankle sidelined him with Ogilvie coming in on the left side of the diamond and doing enough to give manager Steve Lovell some food for thought.

Indeed it was to be Ogilvie who shuddered the frame of the visitors’ goal with the first half’s clearest chance for either side as Eaves worked the chance from down the left.

Darren Oldaker – impressing again in midfield – forced Blackpool keeper Christoffer Mafoumbi into what on second look was a really impressive block from a viciously moving free kick with Mark Byrne unfortunate with the follow up.

The visitors then scored with effectively their only effort on goal worthy of the name four minutes after the break when the otherwise faultless Max Ehmer hit a clearance straight to Chris Taylor and the former Millwall man centred for Delfouneso to head home past a hopelessly exposed Tomas Holy.

It was a real kick in the teeth for the Gills and for the first time in recent times they seemed to run out of ideas as Blackpool not only parked the bus but also the infamous “Big Dipper” as the visitors began blatant time wasting which referee Hicks to be blunt, did very little about.

It was an increasingly frustrating night for all concerned at Priestfield, and Barry Fuller forced Mafoumbi into a low smart save which the keeper bettered in stoppage time as he denied a combination of Gills substitutes – Elliott List and Josh Parker – with a remarkable reflex save.

It wasn’t to be three League wins on the bounce for the Gills, but six points out of nine has lifted the gloom somewhat around Priestfield as the club now prepares to join in “the March to the Arch” and the greatest Cup competition in the world as Hartlepool United come calling in the Emirates FA Cup.

 

Gillingham: Holy, O’Neill (List 76), Ehmer, Zakuani, Hanlan, Eaves, Charles-Cook (Parrett 77), Fuller, Oldaker, Byrne, Ogilvie (Parker 88).

Subs not used: Hadler, Nasseri, Simpson, Mbo.

Booked: O’Neill (71).

 

Blackpool: Mafoumbi, Heneghan, Delfouneso, Spearing, Cullen (Pritchard 85), Nottingham, Tilt, Taylor (Thompson 60), Turton, Guy, Bola.

Subs not used: Boney, Dodoo, McLaughlin, O’Sullivan, Feeney.

Goal: Delfouneso (49).

Booked: Delfouneso (66), Spearing (89).

 

Referee: Mr Craig Hicks

Picture supplied by Kent Pro Images.