Ten man Gillingham slumped to defeat at Priestfield as Bolton Wanderers kept their own slim Play Off hopes alive with a comfortable victory.

The three points kept the Trotter just about within touching distance of the division’s top six whilst the defeat leaves Neil Harris’ side scrambling for their League One lives with now just ten games to go.

Harris made one change from the side that had won at Lincoln City with Muzzie Carayol replacing Olly Lee whilst former skipper Kyle Dempsey wasn’t in the visitor’s squad.

Sadly, for his former employers, he wasn’t missed as the visitors ran out comfortable winners on a disappointing afternoon at home base, and Bolton could easily have been in front before they eventually broke the deadlock.

Dion Charles twice shot into the side netting when well placed; Aaron Chapman saved superbly from Declan John before they finally found a way through the Gills rear guard on the half hour as Aaron Morley curled home a super strike from distance as he left Chapman with little chance.

It was a deserved lead for the visitors at the break as the Gills struggled yet again at home, and they were indebted to Max Ehmer just after the break that they didn’t fall further behind as the defender did brilliantly to block Marlon Fossey’s drive. 

Chapman then outdid his first half save with a super double stop. Dapo Afalayan was denied at the Gills near post and as the ball rebounded to the same player, his follow up was denied by Chapman’s magnificent recovery.

The home side’s poor afternoon dropped to another level just past the hour when they were reduced to ten men when Dan Phillips was shown two yellow cards in very quick succession – the first unluckily for a tough challenge whilst the second came shortly afterwards as Bolton tried to break quickly.

And the visitors took less than five minutes to double the lead and take advantage of the man superiority as John was on hand as Chapman was desperately unlucky to see his save from Jon Dadi Bodvarsson shot fall straight to the Bolton man.

Bodvarsson sealed the three points in the last five minutes by turning the ball home but by then the points were well on their way back to the Northwest, with the home faithful desperately checking scores elsewhere to see if their heroes were still within three points of safety.

Fortunately, the results did go the way of Harris and his charges meaning that they go on their travels next week still within touching distance of safety… but to say the next game facing Gillingham is massive is the understatement of the season, as they head for Yorkshire for a relegation six pointer at Doncaster Rovers with the loser surely doomed!

GILLINGHAM – Chapman, Jackson, Tucker, Ehmer, Masterson, McKenzie, Phillips, O’Keefe, Thompson, Carayol (Reeves H/T), Oliver (Kelman 87).

Subs not used – Dahlberg, Maghoma, Tutonda, Lee, Dickson-Peters.

Booked: Phillips (57).

Sent Off: Phillips (61).

BOLTON WANDERERS – Trafford, John, Williams (Thomason 86), Santos, Johnston, Bodvarsson, Charles (Bakayoko 78), Fossey, Aimson, Morley, Afolayan (Sadlier 78).

Subs not used – Dixon, Amaechi, Gordon, Senior.

Goals: Morley (31), John (65), Bodvarsson (86).

Booked: Williams (73).

REFEREE – Mr Craig Hicks

Attendance: 5,109

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.