Gillingham slipped to their third defeat in four League games as Harrogate Town left Priestfield with the points on a night when old failing resurfaced for Neil Harris’ side.

The Gills failed to score for the third time this season and after having just a single shot on target at Tranmere in their previous game, the home side again struggled in front of the goal as the Yorkshire side won the first game played between the two sides.

It was a frustrating night for the Priestfield faithful as they filed into the night with the optimism of the previous home game and the win over Rochdale already seemingly a distant memory.

The Gills started brightly with Ben Reeves shooting over before drilling a low centre that flashed across the face of goal.

Glenn Morris made a terrific low save to thwart Harrogate’s first real chance before Jordan Green went close at the other end. The winger, who had the Gills’ best chance at the weekend when his shot came back off the inside of Tranmere’s right post, was this time denied by feet of the advancing keeper as Mark Oxley narrowed the angle.

New signing Hakeeb Adelakun then crashed a volley wide before Harrogate edged in front courtesy of Matt Daly’s side foot after a quick break.

It could have been worse for Gillingham at the break, but Morris made a superb save to deny Alex Pattison as the striker looked like he’d got the better of the home stopper.

The second half didn’t get much better for the Gills with Morris proving to be the saviour on more than one occasion. He made a wonderful save to keep out Jaheim Headley not once but twice as the keeper pulled off a great block as the striker followed up his own first effort.

The Gills huffed and puffed but in truth didn’t create a great deal until the closing stages and six minutes from time Mikael Mandron had a great chance from a Reeves corner, but sadly for the home fans, it was they who were catching the ball as the header went into the crowd.

The game was well and truly up when Harrogate got a second through Pattison as the shot summed up the Gills night – deflecting off a defender before going in off a post.

Another tough night at Priestfield…

The defeat leaves Gillingham sitting 20th in League Two with three defeats from their opening four games of the season.

Next up for Neil Harris’ side is the visit of Walsall to Priestfield on Saturday. On this showing, things need to improve and fast.

Gillingham: Morris, Wright (Alexander 65), Ehmer, Baggott, Law (Walker 81), Lee, O’Keefe (Kashket 65), Green, Reeves, Adelakun (MacDonald 75), Mandron.

Subs not used: Turner, Tutonda, MacArthur.

Booked: Adelakun (45), Wright (52), Baggott (69), Reeves (71), Lee (87).

Harrogate: Oxley, Welch-Hayes, Mattock (Richards 73), Headley, Pattison, Austerfield, Ramsay, Dooley (Thomson 63), Ferguson, Daly (Muldoon 80), Armstrong.

Subs not used: Giles, Burrell, Frost, Ilesanmi.

Goals: Daly (26), Pattison (86).

Booked: Mattock (5), Pattison (34), Ramsay (85).

Referee: Mr Lee Swabey.

Attendance: 3,931 (63 Harrogate).

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.