Max Clatyon’s goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time broke ten man Gillingham’s spirit after seemingly battling for a point at Priestfield.

Trailing 3-1 with twenty minutes to go, The Gills clawed themselves level in another goal fest in Medway, but once Danny Spiller was sent off for the first time in his career with ten minutes left, the visitors pounded the home goal until ultimately the winner came in the 95th minute.

The opening fifteen or twenty minutes of the game won’t live long in the memory with Gillingham making three changes to the side that beat Barnet on Tuesday night.

In came Simon King, Jack Payne and Dennis Oli for the injured Garry Richards and Jordan Obita, whilst Danny Kedwell was only deemed fit enough to take his place amongst the subs.

The only thing worth mentioning in the opening twenty minutes was Charlie Lee picking up his fifteenth booking of the season, ruling him out of Gillingham’s next three games, whilst Simon King had an effort cleared off the line.

With Crewe looking good going forward, the games’ opening goal finally came on 27 minutes when the ball fell kindly to Nick Powell thirty yards out and the Alex man made no mistake dispatching the ball past the unfortunate Paulo Gazzaniga.

Needing to change things around, Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler took off Ollie Lee at the break with Danny Kedwell brought on to partner Dennis Oli in attack and the move paid dividends within minutes as his cross was met by Jack Payne for 1-1.

No sooner than The Gills fans stopped celebrating and Crewe scored twice within ninety seconds. Firstly, Powell crossed for Ajay Leitch-Smith and dsepite his first time shot being saved by Gazzaniga, The Gills keeper was unable to keep out the rebound.

Crewe’s third goal came just seconds later when Powell found time and space in the Gillingham box before firing past Gazzaniga to seemingly put the game to bed.

Going two goals down spurred Gillingham on and Chris Whelpdale was denied by Crewe keeper Steve Phillips, but he wasn’t to be denied on 67 minutes when Charlie Lee’s long throw was cleared into his path.

With the home support calling for an equaliser, they weren’t to be disappointed six minutes later when Kedwell’s first time shot was saved by Phillips and seventeen year old Ashley Miller was on hand to tap home his first senior goal for Gillingham.

Just ten minutes remained when the game’s turning point went Crewe’s way when substitute Danny Spiller was deemed to have fouled Jordan Brown and referee Keith Stroud produced a red card.

Being numerically disadvantaged, Gillingham looked to keep bodies behind the ball to deny Crewe and it looked as though they had battled for a point until the sixth minute of the five minutes stoppage time when Max Clayton was in the right place to head home Byron Moore’s cross.

There was barely time for Gillingham to kick off again as Mr Stroud blew for full-time, condeming the home side to defeat, their first in six games and seemingly leaving Andy Hessenthaler less than impressed with the standard of officiating.

FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 3-4 CREWE ALEXANDRA

Gillingham’s defeat sees them stay eighth in League Two, just outside the play-offs after Oxford United lost at Bradford City with a trip to Cheltenham Town to come next Saturday.

Should Gillingham elect not to appeal Danny Spiller’s sending off, he will miss the Cheltenham game with Charlie Lee, Joe Martin and Lewis Montrose as they will all be suspended.

Gills line up: Gazzaniga, C Lee (Spiller 68), Essam, King, Jackman, Whelpdale, J Payne, Montrose, O Lee (Kedwell H/T), Oli (Evans 78), Miller.

Subs not used: Hawkes, Davies.

Goals: J Payne (48), Whelpdale (67), Miller (73).

Booked: C Lee (16), Jackman (42), Montrose (71), J Payne (79).

Sent Off: Spiller (80).

Crewe line up: Phillips, Tootle, Davis, Westwood, Artell, Dugdale, Murphy, Leitch-Smith, Moore, Shelley (Brown 75), Powell.

Subs not used: Martin, Miller, Clayton, Pearson.

Goals: Powell (27) & (53), Leitch-Smith (52), Clayton (90+5).

Booked: Davis (76), Tootle (83).

Referee: Mr Keith Stroud

Assts: Mr Ian Crouch & Mr John Magill

Attendance: 5,428 (170 Crewe).