The Football League season in Kent ended in great disappointment as in the setting sun over the River Medway, Gillingham produced possibly their most frustrating home League performance of 2023 as a packed Priestfield were silenced by the Amber and Black invaders from Newport.

In truth, the Welsh side more than deserved their win as they caught a baking Priestfield cold on only nine minutes when Cameron Norman squeezed home a header from a corner.

The Gills though did level just eight minutes later when Tom Nichols was clobbered in the box and after dusting himself down smashed the spot kick past keeper Nick Townsend for his sixth goal in Gillingham blue – a strike that now “officially” makes him the top scorer for the season.

Newport’s Omar Bogle was a real pain for Max Ehmer and Conor Masterson throughout – possibly their toughest opponent since the partnership was restruck back in early February – and in a very lucklustre end of season second period it was perhaps inevitable that it would be Bogle who drilled home the County winner twelve minutes from time.

The first period offered a really enthralling game of League Two football with chances at both ends.

Newport led early – a cross into the Gills box was deflected off Ethan Coleman’s knee and looped over Glenn Morris’ crossbar and from the resulting corner from James Waite, Norman silenced the packed Rainham End who just moments before had acknowledged the life of Tony Smith with an amazing moment of applause following the death of the man who arguably saved the club from extinction in the 1990s.

The Gills just couldn’t get going at all in bright sunshine and were perhaps a shade fortunate to level the scores on seventeen minutes when Alex MacDonald’s ball into the box for Nichols saw the striker flattened by a defender and he coolly dusted himself down and rammed home the spot kick.

It inspired what proved to be the Gills’ best spell of the game – Tim Dieng did really well down the right and from his cross Nichols forced Townsend into a really smart save to his right.

A combination of Morris and Max Ehmer denied Newport retaking the lead just before the break – Aaron Lewis’ fine shot was beaten out by the newly contract extended keeper and only a magnificent tackle from the first Gills player to renew his contract recently denied Bogle a tap in.

Gillingham had their chance too as the first half seemed to go on and on and on as Nichols’ diving header was superbly kept out by Townsend – just a shame from a Gillingham perspective that assistant Dunn’s flag was up!

On the stroke of half time, Morris wasn’t tested by Nathan Moriath-White’s effort which really should have, and the two sides went in evenly matched after an enjoyable half.

Sadly, the second period didn’t meet any of the highs of the first half which as perhaps not that surprising given the baking sunshine and match forty five of a very long season.

The only clear chances of the second period saw Bogle inexplicably pass when clean through on Morris’ goal, Nichols test Townsend with a low drive, and Bogle smash home the winner from Norman’s free kick with twelve minutes left!

So, it’s “only” the twenty-eight points out of thirty-six at Fortress Priestfield in 2023 as Newport become just the second side to win at home base in the League since Christmas.

As the faithful filed out into the glorious April sunshine no doubt disappointed just remember that in the first of the home League Two programme, Gillingham managed less than a point a game – ten points in eleven games – and at that point were seven points adrift of Football League survival – just for the record they end their home campaign fifteen points clear of bottom of the League Rochdale, the side who when the Gills were bottom on January 2nd were the target for survival – then in 22nd place.

Or in other words in twenty-one games the Gills have a swing of twenty-two points in their favour.

Yes, it was a disappointing end but what a ride the Priestfield faithful have enjoyed – roll on August… after of course the final game of the season at Salford on the second holiday Monday of the month…

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Alexander, McKenzie, Ehmer, Masterson, Coleman (Clarke 84), Jeffries (Hawkins 65), Dieng, MacDonald, Lapslie, Nichols.

Subs not used – Wright, Turner, Abrahams, Chambers, Tutonda.

Goal: Nichols (pen 17).

NEWPORT COUNTY – Townsend, Baker, Farquharson (Charsley 57), Demetriou, Norman, Moriah-Welsh, Lewis, Waite, Evans, Bogle, McNeill (Kavanagh 72).

Subs not used – Day, Bowen, Wildig, Rai, Paige.

Goals: Norman (9), Bogle (78).

Referee – Mr Craig Hicks

Attendance: 7,872