Matty Kennedy’s strike earned Portsmouth a 1-0 win at struggling Gillingham in Sky Bet League One on Sunday.

The Scottish winger’s effort just after half-time as enough for Pompey to seal all three points at Priestfield, lifting them up to 13th in the table.

Gillingham, meanwhile, put in a passive display under caretaker boss Peter Taylor and remain in the relegation zone.

A relatively incident-free first half was livened up immediately after the break by Portsmouth’s goal, with Curtis Main’s thumping header bouncing off the past and into the path of Kennedy, who showed great composure to coolly slot the ball home.

Gillingham started to pick up a little and had the ball in the back of the net after 66 minutes, but Josh Parker’s effort from close range was correctly ruled out for offside – although it was very close.

The home side couldn’t rally and find an equaliser, though, as Portsmouth saw the game out for victory.

The game was marred by an injury to Ben Nugent just before the break with seventeen year old Jack Tucker having to come on for his full league debut.

Gillingham will be hoping to have a new manager in place ahead of Saturday’s trip to fifth place Peterborough United with Steve Evans, Shaun Derry and Martin Allen all said to be in the frame.

 

Gillingham line up: Holy; O’Mara, Ehmer, Nugent (Tucker 45); Parker, Hessenthaler, Bingham, Martin (List 57), Ogilvie; Clare (Oldaker 67); Wilkinson.

Subs not used: Arnold, Simpson, Wagstaff, Nash.

Booked: Ehmer (86).

Portsmouth line up: McGee; Thompson, Hawkins, Clarke, Donohue (Haunstrup 67); Close (Rose 83), O’Keefe; Lowe, Bennett (Evans 82), Kennedy; Main.

Subs not used: Bass, Talbot, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naismith.

Booked: Clarke (45+2), Thompson (74).

Goal: Kennedy 46.

Referee: Chris Sarginson.

Attendance: 8,163