Gillingham slipped to a fifth defeat in a row against Newport County at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Goals in the first half from Matt Baker and Kyle Hudlin were enough for the visitors to win their fourth straight game against the Gills. Despite dominating large parts of the game, the Gills failed to really test Nick Townsend consistently during the match.
Mark Bonner made two changes to the side that lost to Bradford City on Saturday. Jack Nolan returned to the starting eleven, replacing Joe Gbode, who dropped to the bench. Oli Hawkins also dropped to the bench with Marcus Wyllie leading the line as a lone striker.
Aaron Wildig had the first chance in the third minute. Hudlin standing at 6ft 9in got on the end of a long ball forward before it dropped to Wildig. The Newport captain half-volleyed it goal ward, but it was straight into Jake Turner’s grateful hands, much to the relief of the Gills defence.
The first Gills glance came with ten minutes on the clock, Jayden Clarke was inches away from giving the hosts the lead. The ball was played into the feet of Wyllie, who in turn found George Lapslie. He threaded the ball through to Clarke who took it on the run into the box before unleashing a shot. However, he was denied by an excellent fingertip save by Nick Townsend, the first of a couple of good saves he would make across the evening.
Ironically it was a former Gillingham academy player Matt Baker gave the visitors in the 16th minute. A soft free kick was given away by Max Clark on the byline. Anthony Glennon sent the free-kick in the direction of Hudlin, the ball dropped to Baker, who stabbed the ball into the top corner. Lapslie on the line could not get his head on it to keep the ball out of the net.
Hudlin made it two for Newport just after the half hour mark. Newport broke forward, and the ball was played out to the tricky Bobby Kamwa on the right. He sent a low cross into the box at Hudlin’s feet. He was allowed too much space to turn and shoot, drilling his low-driven effort into the bottom corner beyond Turner, who was left with no chance.
Gillingham came out at the start of the second-half, and clearly Mark Bonner’s half time team talk was ringing in the team’s ears. Nolan came inches away from pulling a goal back after good work down the right by Clarke and Hutton. The move ended with Hutton putting a cross into the box. Nolan attempted to get on the end of the cross, but just failed to make any meaningful contact.
Newport by now were firmly camped in their own half as the Gills attacked their penalty with the exiles defending heroically at times. Which was case in point when Clarke drilled a shot with his left foot goal wards, but once again a Newport defender got a block in,
The Gills best chance of the half fell to the impressive Wyllie, Dieng flicked the ball over the defender who was in close proximity. Wyllie used his strength to muscle through and bring the ball down, he took a touch and prodded the ball goal wards but Townsend was there to deny the Gills.
Townsend was then on hand to make an impressive one handed save from substitute Jonny Wlliams produced an incredible reactionary save to keep Jonny Williams’ volley out. The midfielder was lurking on the edge of the area waiting for a knockdown, a ball duly arrived. He smashed tit first time, through a crowd of players. It looked as though it was going to hit the back of the Rainham End net, but there was Townsend who stuck out a hand to deflect it away just as it was about to go past him.
The Gills now head to Swindon at the weekend in 11th place, two points outside the play-off places. Having started the month top of the pile.
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Ehmer, Masterson (Wakeling 75’), Clark (Ogie 62’), Coleman, Dieng (Hawkins 63’), Clarke, Lapslie (J. Williams 21’), Nolan (Gbode 62’), Wyllie
Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, E. Williams
Newport County: Townsend, Baker, Brennan, Jameson, C. Evans, Miley (Antwi 70’), Morris (Whitmore 46’), Kamwa (K. Evans 60’), Wildig, Glennon (Spellman 81’), Hudlin (Baker-Richardson 60’)
Subs not used: Carney, Clarke
Attendance: 5262
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC