Gillingham kept their play-off hopes alive with a hard fought victory over Swindon Town at Priestfield on Saturday afternoon.
Two goals from Chris Whelpdale and one from Danny Kedwell ensured The Gills season goes on for at least another week, with Swindon sealing promotion to League One depsite the 3-1 defeat.
With Swindon in town expecting to host their promotion party at Priestfield, Gillingham went into the game knowing anything less than victory would suffice.
Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler made two changes to the side that drew at Oxford, with Gavin Tomlin (injured) and Rowan Vine dropping out of the side.
In their place came Danny Jackman and Charlie Lee to bolster the midfield, whilst Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio made eight changes from the side that lost at Aldershot in the week with former Gills midfielder Luke Rooney losing his place in the squad after a late night out last Saturday.
The game started cautiously with both sides failing to find the necessary tempo to take hold of the game, but it was Swindon that made the early forays forward.
The deadlock was finally broken on 26 minutes when Charlie Lee’s long throw from in front of the Medway Stand was flicked on by Danny Kedwell and it looped past Paul Smith into the far corner for 1-0.
It could have been so much better for Gillingham had Lewis Montrose’s long range effort not come rattling back off the bar and in the resulting melee Chris Whelpdale glanced a header just wide of the post.
Swindon almost found themselves a goal just after the break when Lee Holmes placed the ball wide when it seemed easier to score, whilst Gillingham went in search of a second goal.
They didn’t have to wait long either as both Montrose and Whelpdale showed great determination to keep possession culminating in the latter placing an audacious shot over Smith from an acute angle.
It could have been even better for Whelpdale as not long later Jo Kuffour put him through on goal and his stabbed shot clipped the outside of the post instead of nestling in the net.
Needing to freshen things up, Hessenthaler withdrew Lee and Kuffour with Danny Spiller and Rowan Vine brought on to give the side a new impetus.
However, it was Swindon that got themselves back in the game with ten minutes to go when centre back Alan McCormack burst from his own box, gave a quick give and go before unleashing a fierce shot past Gazzaniga into the bottom corner.
That served up some nervy last few minutes, but the tie was put beyond doubt in the fifth minute of injury time when substitute Curtis Weston was felled in the box by Jonathan Smith and up stepped Whelpdale to tuck away the penalty.
FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 3-1 SWINDON TOWN
So, Gillingham’s victory keeps their hopes of a play-off place alive for at least another week, but they remian four points off the play-offs with Crewe winning.
Next up for Andy Hessenthaler’s side is a trip to Northampton Town on Saturday in what becomes a must win game for The Gills.
Gillingham line up: Gazzaniga, Fish, Essam, Frampton, Martin, Lee (Spiller 71), Montrose, Jackman, Whelpdale, Kuffour (Vine 74 ), Kedwell (Weston 83).
Subs not used: King, Oli.
Goals: Kedwell (26), Whelpdale (52 & pen 96).
Booked: Frampton (11), Kedwell (34), Jackman (56), Essam (87).
Swindon line up: P Smith, Caddis, McCormack, Flint, McEveley, Ferry, Risser (J Smith 53), Holmes (Gabiondo 73), Bostock, Connell (Murray 37).
Subs not used: Scott, N Thompson.
Goal: McCormack (81).
Referee: Mr Rushton
Attendance: 6,390