Gillingham’s performance at Sixfields summed up 2020 as they finished the year with a 3-1 defeat as Northampton Town climbed out of the League One relegation zone.
Steve Evans’ side weren’t at the races as Sam Hoskins, Danny Rose and Alan Sheehan were all on target as the Cobblers ended their four-game losing run with a crucial victory.
Evans was able to select the same starting eleven that had won at Rochdale, but was only able to name five substitutes with no spare keeper on the bench.
Cian Bolger and Hoskins were off target with early headers for the home side before Sheehan produced a brilliant block to deny Kyle Dempsey.
Northampton were ahead on the half-hour mark when Connor Ogilvie tripped Rose inside the penalty box and Hoskins stepped up to smash home from 12 yards.
The home side then had a second four minutes later as Rose turned in after Benny Ashley-Seal’s shot was saved, but Dempsey’s free-kick right on half-time left the game in the balance.
Northampton restored their two-goal lead just 90 seconds into the second half though as Ashley-Seal was fouled and Sheehan’s free-kick evaded everyone and dropped into the bottom corner.
Hoskins hit the post and Rose nearly had his second as Gillingham never looked like getting anything from the game.
The defeat sees The Gills stay 13th in League One, six points off the play-off places, but crucially seven points above the relegation zone.
They kick off 2021 at Plymough Argyle on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways.
Northampton Town line up: Mitchell, Jones, Bolger, Sheehan (Horsfall 77), Adams (Harriman 71), McWilliams, Watson, Sowerby, Hoskins, Rose (Chukwuemeka 71), Ashley-Seal (Holmes 90).
Subs not used: Arnold, Missilou, Marshall.
Goals: Hoskins (pen 31), Rose (35), Sheehan (47).
Booked: McWilliams (82), Ashley-Seal (84).
Gillingham line up: Bonham; Jackson, Tucker, Ogilvie, O’Connor, McKenzie, Eccles (Willock 60), Robertson (Oliver 46), Dempsey, MacDonald (Coyle 74), Akinde.
Subs not used: Maghoma, Drysdale.
Goal: Dempsey (45).
Referee: Mr Carl Boyeson.
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.