Gillingham’s hopes of making it to the play-offs are fading fast after tasting defeat at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on Easter Monday.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side had been hoping to keep pace with the top seven, but the loss to the League Two strugglers has put a dent in their promotion ambitions.

Brian Woodall’s goal seven minutes before the interval served as a wake up call to The Gills who failed to ignite in the first half.

Rowan Vine’s first goal for the club thirteen minutes into the second period seemed to have got Gillingham back on track and they pushed forward looking for a winner.

However, it wasn’t to be and a real sucker punch came on 73 minutes when substitute Dominic Green cut in from the wing before unleashing a shot past Paulo Gazzaniga.

The game hadn’t really started out as being a classic with the rain pouring down at Priestfield. Andy Hessenthaler kept faith with the same starting line up that drew 2-2 at Bristol Rovers with Jo Kuffour replacing Ashley Miller on the bench.

Neither side really took to the game and the conditions meant both sides played too direct in the opening exchanges.

Brian Woodall wasted Dagenham’s opening chance of the game firing wide, whilst Vine blasted just over at the other end.

Jack Payne had a bursting run into the Daggers box and could easily have gone down under a robust challenge, but opted to stay on his feet and saw his shot comfortably saved.

With the half seemingly meandering to a goalless conclusion, Ogogo’s cross was met by Woodall and the Daggers man made no mistake taking the ball down and past Gazzaniga.

Woodall could have made it 2-0 just minutes later, but was guilty of failing to find the target again, whilst at the other end Lewis Montrose saw his effort go across goal and away to safety.

Gillingham failed to learn from their mistakes and moments into the second half Medy Elito’s pull back into the path of Josh Parker was superbly saved by Gazzaniga to keep his side in the game.

That spurred The Gills on and on 58 minutes it was 1-1 when Vine showed his Premier League class clipping the ball past Lewington in the Daggers goal.

The introduction of Danny Spiller and Jo Kuffour should have given the home side the spark needed to find a winner, but moments after the latter came on, they were behind.

Dominic Green waltzed past both Danny Jackman and Jack Payne, before firing the ball past Gazzaniga to the shock of the home crowd.

Dennis Oli was thrown on in the latter stages to see if he could repeat Friday’s heroics, but it wasn’t to be and The Gills walked off to a chorus of boos around Priestfield.

FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 1-2 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

The defeat leaves The Gills four points adrift of the play-off places with four games left to play. On Saturday, The Gills face what could possibly be the biggest game of their season when they travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United in what can only be described as a six pointer.

 

Gillingham line up: Gazzaniga, Fish, Essam, Frampton, Martin (Kuffour 69), Whelpdale, J Payne, Montrose (Spiller 66), Jackman, Kedwell, Vine (oli 81).

Subs not used: Evans, O Lee.

Goal: Vine (58).

Dagenham line up: Lewington, Doe, Arber, Baudry, Spillane, McCroy, Elito (Akinde 90+1), Parker (Green 62), Ogogo, Bingham, Woodall (Scott 87).

Subs not used: Hogan, Wassmer.

Goals: Woodall (38), Green (73).

Referee: Mr Williamson

Attendance: 5,773 (313 Dagenham)