Gillingham slipped to their first home defeat in the Neil Harris era as Plymouth Argyle dominated at Priestfield to maintain their own Play Off push.
For the Gills, this defeat leaves them still five points from safety on a day when fortunately for Harris’ side, none of League One’s bottom ten clubs managed a win between them.
Harris named the same side that came so close to getting all three points at Morecambe seven days before, but in truth they never looked like matching Argyle as the visitors ran up twenty-two shots on Aaron Chapman’s goal whilst the Gills mustered just two at the other end.
After an instantly forgettable first half where both sides struggled to adapt from a swirling freezing wind in the aftermath of Storm Eunice coming straight off the River Medway, it was Argyle who went closest even though neither keeper was forced into a save worthy of the name. Niall Ennis – after a lucky ricochet – and Panutche Camara’s volley – which whistled over the bar – was effectively all the crowd had to “cheer”!
The second half wasn’t a minute old when the visitors maintained their amazing record of scoring in every single away game this season – Jordan Garrick was the scorer with a super curling effort beyond Chapman after powering through to the edge of the box.
Plymouth were in front, and they pressed looking for a second – Camara lobbed wide; Conor Grant shot wide whilst Chapman saved superbly from Danny Mayor – and to be fair, sadly for Gillingham they rarely looked threatened for the lead either.
On seventy-three minutes, Argyle introduced proven League One strikers Luke Jephcott and Ryan Hardie and within three minutes the points were sealed, as Stuart O’Keefe brought Hardie down after a swift break and Jephcott sent Chapman the wrong way from the spot.
If Neil Harris’ first home games had rekindled hope in the Gillingham faithful, this result, albeit against one of the division’s best sides, will be a real kick in the teeth ahead of the massive home game coming up in midweek.
For the Gills to survive in the division they must reach 20th place in the table – the side currently five points in front of them in the treasured place above the trap door are AFC Wimbledon, and it’s the Wombles who head for Priestfield on Tuesday…
GILLINGHAM – Chapman, McKenzie, Masterson, Ehmer, Tucker, Tutonda (Jackson 56), Lee (Reeves 70), O’Keefe, Thompson, Oliver, Dickson-Peters.
Subs not used – Dahlberg, Lintott, Maghoma, Phillips, Kelman.
Booked: Lee (61).
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE – Cooper, Bolton, Gillesphey, Houghton, Wilson, Edwards, Mayor (Broom 88), Ennis (Jephcott 73), Grant, Garrick (Hardie 73), Camara.
Subs not used – Burton, Randell, Law, Crichlow.
Goals: Garrick (46), Jephcott (pen 76).
Booked: Wilson (30).
REFEREE: Paul Howard
Attendance: 5,197
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.