Two goals in three first half minutes condemned Gillingham to their first home League defeat since the opening day as Portsmouth left Priestfield with the win for the first time in three seasons.

Former Gills loanee John Marquis and Michael Jacobs gave the home side a mountain to climb inside the opening twenty minutes and unfortunately it proved insurmountable as the points disappeared down the A3 to Hampshire.

With the Gills hit by injuries and illness Steve Evans made four changes from the weekends reverse at MK Dons with Chris Maghoma coming into the back line where he was joined in the middle by Declan Drysdale who was dropped into the back four.

With his midfield place going to the returning Jacob Mellis alongside Tommy O’Connor (back from international duty) and Josh Eccles – Jack Tucker, Zech Medley, skipper Kyle Dempsey and Scott Robertson the players making way for the combination of injury, illness and selection.

Traditionally games between the two at Priestfield have always been played in front of tumultuous and vociferous crowds and they would have loved the start to this game as both sides went close in the opening minutes – Marquis had a shot saves by Jack Bonham, whilst Jordan Graham went close for the Gills but his shot was blocked.

Mellis then had a shot saved before the visitors then netted twice in three minutes – Marquis firing low into the bottom corner and three minutes later Jacobs repeated the feat drilling into the bottom corner to double the Pompey advantage.

The Gills were knocked off their stride but rallied as the half progress with Vadaine Oliver heading just over from Graham’s set piece. Graham himself then shot narrowly with from Dominic Samuel’s pass before Pompey almost made it three just before the break, Tom Naylor’s header coming back off the frame of Bonham’s goal.

The second half began with the visitors on top as Jacobs went close twice, Bonham pulling off a fine save for the first. O’Connor had a shot blocked for the Gills before Oliver’s header was just too high from an Eccles cross.

It was then Marquis’ turn to go close twice, the second courtesy of a booming clearance from keeper Craig MacGillivray.

Try as they might Gillingham couldn’t find a way through and were always liable to get caught on the break with Jacobs again being denied by Bonham.

In the closing stages, Eccles and substitute Alex MacDonald were both well denied by MacGillivray as time eventually ran out for Evans’ side. Could it have been different with a passionate home crowd inside the ground? That is a question that we’ll never know the answer to.

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing day for the Gills as earlier it emerged that long standing Club Secretary Gwen Poynter had left the club. Mrs Poynter, who had been the Club’s Secretary for 26 years, began the job before Chairman Paul Scally bought the club.

Among those to pay tribute to Mrs Poynter, former favourite Barry Ashby posted on Facebook “… absolute classy lady, would help you with anything, I hope she’s seen as a club legend as she was just as much a part of club success as players were!” sentiments that were endorsed by Robert Taylor, who simply posted “Well said Ash!”

GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackman, Ogilvie, Maghoma, Drysdale, Mellis, Eccles, O’Connor, Oliver (MacDonald), Samuel (Akinde), Graham

Subs – Walsh, Tucker, McKenzie, Coyle, Robertson

Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Medley, Ogilvie, Dempsey, Robertson (Eccles), Drysdale (Akinde), Graham, Oliver, Samuel (Coyle)

PORTSMOUTH – MacGillivray, Johnson, Brown, Whatmough, Raggett, Taylor, Williams, Harness (Close), Cannon (Curtis), Jacobs (Pring), Marquis

Subs – Bass, Nicolaisen, Morris, Stanley

REFEREE – Mr Buck

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC