Gillingham slumped to a disappointing 3-0 defeat against a rampant Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.

A James Henry brace and a goal from Matty Taylor sealed what was a glum afternoon in Oxford for Steve Evans’ men, just a week after a performance that promised so much against league leaders Ipswich Town.

It was always going to be tough for the Gills with Oxford coming off the back of a 6-0 league win and a 4-0 Carabao Cup demolishing of Premier League West Ham in midweek, but the boys in blue did themselves no favours on another tough away day for the side.

The game started in even fashion, with both teams seemingly trying to get a foot on the ball. A couple of throw-ins came to nothing, though.

If the opening period was a matter of both sides trying to settle, Oxford definitely settled the better and they took the lead after nine minutes thanks to a long range effort from James Henry.

Liverpool loanee Ben Woodburn broke for Oxford from a Gillingham free-kick, and danced through the Gills’ defences before laying the ball to Henry. The wide man looked up, took a touch, and bent a neat effort round Jack Bonham to give United an early lead.

The goal seemed to trigger a change in momentum and Oxford began to smell blood with Woodburn coming close himself before Rob Dickie fired over from a corner when he, perhaps, should’ve scored.

Gillingham still hadn’t settled and plenty of wayward passes found the stands, including a Jack Bonham ball as he and Connor Ogilvie tried to play out from the back.

Cameron Brannagan, perhaps Oxford’s best player on the day, had a shot blocked before United captain John Mousino almost netted against his old side, forcing a smart save from Bonham after 24 minutes when most thought he had scored.

Bonham’s efforts were in vain, though, and Oxford doubled their lead on the half hour mark thanks to forward and academy graduate Matty Taylor. James Henry this time turned creator, and his slick pass found Taylor who slotted past the onrushing Bonham to make it 2-0.

Just four minutes later two became three as Gillingham collapsed, and Henry got his second of the day with a header from Taylor’s cross – the forward returning the favour for Henry’s earlier assist. It was just a matter of how many, at this point.

Henry could’ve had a hattrick by half time – he had his head in his hands when a solid effort came back off the inside of the post just before the break.

Gillingham manager Steve Evans would surely have been rattled at the interval, and he made a double change to try and shake things up and give his side a chance in the second period; Oliver Lee and Mark Marshall replaced Alex Jakubiak and Jack Tucker as the Gills reverted to a back four.

The Blues were almost gifted a goal in the opening two minutes of the half, too, when Oliver Lee hit the post from the edge of the box. Oxford ‘keeper Simon Eastwood tried to shield a ball out for a goal-kick from Hanlan, but the forward nicked it off him and ran towards goal with Eastwood nowhere to be seen. Hanlan squared the ball to Lee, but the midfielder was put under pressure and could only strike the post. One feels that effort had to go in for Gillingham to have a chance at getting back into the game.

Half-time sub Mark Marshall looked to add pace and width to the Gills’ play, but the side weren’t singing from the same song sheet and Marshall saw a well worked cross fizzle out of play early in the second period.

Oxford weren’t content with three goals and continued to pressure Gillingham with Taylor firing well over after a great cross from full-back Chris Cadden.

Cadden’s opposite full-back Josh Ruffels struck a thunderbolt that looked to be heading goalwards but for a vital block from Gillingham captain Max Ehmer, too.

Oliver Lee did his best to inject some spark to Gillingham’s play, and he fought well to drive to the byline as the game approached the final 10 minutes, but, again, no one was helping him and possession was lost.

Oxford were happy to see the game out in the final few minutes, and a Mark Marshall pea-roller in the final minute of additional time – Gillingham’s first and only shot on target all game – triggered ironic cheers from the away faithful.

The final whistle finally came to put Gillingham out of their misery, and Oxford ran out more than convincing winners. Steve Evans will surely be fuming with his side’s performance – the only positive, perhaps, that they didn’t concede in the second-half.

Oxford: Eastwood, Caddie, Ruffels, Dickie (Moore 45), Gorrin (Baptiste 69), Brannagan, Taylor (Mackie 83), Woodburn, Fosu, Mousinho, Henry.

Subs not used: Hall, Long, Stevens, Forde.

Goals: Henry 10 & 34, Taylor 30

Gillingham: Bonham, Ehmer, Ogilvie, Hanlan, Fuller, Jones, Pringle (O’Keefe 81), Byrne, Jakubiak (Lee 45), O’Connor, Tucker (Marshall 45).

Subs not used: Mandron, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook, Royce.

Goals: N/A

Attendance: 6553 (483 away)

Referee: Mr. A. Woolmer

Assistants: Mr. N. Barnard & Mr. P. Dermott

Fourth official: Mr. I. Cooper