It was a Saturday that promised so much at Priestfield but delivered nothing!

On a day where home hopes were literally blown away by a cold swirling wind around Priestfield, Gillingham slipped to their biggest home defeat so far in the Steve Evans era leaving the manager with little cheer at the end of his birthday week.

In fairness once again the home side had no luck or fortune on the day but for possibly the first time this season following a home defeat, the Priestfield faithful disappeared into the Medway night numbed not just by the early November cold but also by a desperate performance from their heroes.

After a cagey start, Rotherham contrived to miss a penalty, accept a real ‘treat’ from the Gills defence before taking full advantage of the conditions in the final fifteen minutes before half time before staging a rear guard action to seal the win before netting a third as the Gills desperately tried to get some kind of foothold in the game. The third goal prompting a mass exodus back to the Medway homes for family firework parties – not that those who left had seen any fireworks from the Gills players

In fact, for the first time this season, many of the Priestfield faithful didn’t even have a shot to applaud of any note on target as the first didn’t arrive until stoppage time when many of them had left already.

Yet despite all the frustration of the home fans with Gillingham, referee Swabey left many of the home crowd completely foxed by some bewildering decisions which including the award of a penalty for the visitors as the game’s first corner was played into the Gills box.  Up stepped home keeper Jack Bonham to become a hero as he plunged to his right to comfortably save Michael Smith’s spot-kick – the third consecutive spot kick missed in front of the Rainham End.

Smith though was to have the last laugh just minutes later when the big striker raced away down the right trying to hold off the challenging Connor Ogilvie, and as Bonham came out to meet them at the angle, the ball squirmed past the keeper leaving Smith the easiest of finishes to walk the ball into an empty net. 

Priestfield was stunned into further disbelief when Matt Crooks got on the end of a hopeful ball forward and comfortably lofted the ball over Bonham to double the lead – the Gills keeper being in complete no-mans land at the edge of his penalty area – just before the break. 

The Gills hadn’t troubled the home defence thanks to a mixture of last ditch defending and heavy handed tactics which sent Brandon Hanlon skidding across Priestfield’s damp surface on numerous occasions yet referee Swabey’s cards were saved for the Gills boss after an exchange just past the mid-way point of the half.

Whatever Evans and Paul Rayner said to their charges at the break seemed to galvanise the Gills as they won three quick corners at the start of the second half – at each one Alex Jakubiak was clearly pushed over by Rotherham keeper Daniel Iversen with plenty of other pushing and shoving going on, yet unlike the first half the official flatly refused to penalise the Yorkshire offender(s) leaving the home fans begging for officiating consistency!

The home side huffed and puffed but didn’t really threaten the Rotherham goal – Regan Charles Cook’s ball in for Jakubiak fell agonisingly short; Mark Byrne fired wide before on a second occasion having a shot palmed aside by Iverson.  On the other hand, the visitors could have had a third when Smith set up Ben Wiles but the midfielder dragged his shot wide,  The final nail in the coffin duly then arrived when Crooks added his second and Rotherham’s third – running in behind the Gills back line and sliding it into the net past Bonham sparking the Priestfield exit.

But whatever excuses Gils fans may look for in the aftermath to the sides third defeat in Priestfield’s last four games, the basic truth of the matter is that Rotherham mastered the conditions so much better than the Gills and showed the merits of having a big goal scorer at this level – how long is it until Santa visits?  He can’t come soon enough for Steve Evans!

Gillingham: Bonham, Tucker (Marshall 75), Ehmer, Ogilvie, O’Connor, Byrne, Jones, O’Keefe, Charles-Cook (Lee 66), Hanlon, Jakubiak (Ndjoli 66)

Subs not used: Hodson, Mandron, Pringle, Royce

Rotherham United: Iversen, Jones, Mattock (Ladapo 86), Wood, Wiles, Lindsay, Crooks, Clarke, Ogbene (Olosunde 69), Ihiekwe, Smith

Subs not used: Price, Barlaser, Morris, Hastie, Lamy

Referee: Mr Swabey

Assistants: Mr Brown & Mr Desborough

Fourth official: Mr Wade