Gillingham’s four game unbeaten run came to an end on a scorching Saturday afternoon at Priestfield as Ipswich Town produced a performance that underlined just why they are many people’s tips for the SKYBet League One title itself.

An enthralling contest was settled by a solitary bundled effort from Kane Vincent-Young just around the half hour mark, yet in any final analysis, Steve Evans will have mixed feeling – from being proud of his sides efforts to both a certain amount of frustration and despair at seeing the unbeaten run go; frustration at the fact that returning keeper Tomas Holy (who received a standing ovation from the Rainham End at half time) wasn’t forced into anything else but routine saves and despair at the fluctuating performance of referee Christopher Sargison who in trying to allow the game to flow was at times far too lenient as a fast moving second half at times became frantic to say the least.

One thing that is for sure is that Brandon Hanlon will have needed probably the longest bath of all the home players as he covered so much ground particularly down the flanks, but on the other hand received more kicks and shoves from Ipswich’s back-line than any other Gills player. 

Indeed on two occasions, it looked like Hanlan had definite questions for the referee after clashing with Luke Wolfenden, but on both occasions, particularly the second time when the defender cleared shoved the Gills striker to the ground – but nothing came the home sides way, which really summed up Gillingham’s afternoon.

With Priestfield bathed in late in baking Saturday afternoon sunshine, the opening was as tight and robust as was expected with Olly Lee having an early half chance, whilst keeper Jack Bonham had to race from his goal line to clear from Kayden Jackson. 

Lee then had what proved to be the Gills best first half chance, but he snatched at a poor defensive clearance.  Ipswich were slowly building into the game and from their first two corners, defender James Wilson had headers that had Bonham scrambling in the first instance, and the second flew just past the post.

Just past the half hour came what was to prove the game winner.  Jackson was given too much time to deliver a deep cross to the back post and Vincent-Young got the wrong side of Tom O’Connor to scramble the ball home.

The second half began with Holy sliced a clearance out for a throw-in a yard from the corner flag.  The ball into the box was cleared but when Hanlon was played in again down the left, it seemed that Woolfenden smothered the Gills man, but referee Sarginson was unmoved. 

Hanlan then was a startled recipient of a golden chance as a corned was missed by a defender, but Hanlan just could react as the ball bounced in front of him before moments later, he glanced Ben Pringle’s corner just wide.

The Gills best chance to draw level fell to Alex Jakubiak – who was put through by a terrific Mark Byrne ball – but just as the Watford loanee went to shoot, Woolfenden just got the tackle in and the ball was deflected into the Rainham End for a corner that came to nothing.

With the Gills piling forward, gaps naturally began to appear at the back, and Jackson was unlucky with a shot that beat Bonham but thudded against the left post, and that was followed by Bonham pulling off a smart save to deny Jon Nolan.

As the clock kicked down, the Gills pushed more and more – Jakubiak threaded a ball through for Hanlon who was clearly impeded by Woolfenden but again referee Sarginson was unmoved, summing up the home sides afternoon!

This was a good test of Steve Evans new look Gillingham – yes they lost, but they lost to one of the if not the promotion favourites, and they gave as good as they got in losing by just a solitary goal, but the effort, determination and pure guts they displayed with Messrs Fuller and Ehmer hobbling through the closing stages was something to really encourage the home faithful for the colder months to come!

GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Fuller, Tucker (Pringle 51), Ehmer, Ogilvie, O’Connor (Hodson 48), Byrne, O’Keefe, Lee, Hanlan, Jakubiak (Mandron 69)

Subs – Walsh, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook, Cisse

IPSWICH – Holy, Chambers, Wilson, Edwards, Skuse, Jackson (Norwood 76), Judge, Downes (Nolan 46), Dozzell (Huws 64), Vincent-Young, Woolfenden

REFEREE – Christopher Sarginson

ASSISTANTS – Matthew Lee & Ryan Whitaker

FOURTH OFFICIAL – Andrew Williams