Two late goals condemned a Gillingham side that saw five changes to their sixth straight defeat at Vale Park on Saturday afternoon.

Chris Whelpdale’s headed goal on the stroke of half time gave the visitors a well deserved lead, but Sean Rigg’s breakaway goal levelled for Vale with just seven minutes on the clock.

To make matters worse, Marc Richards sealed all three points from the spot in the 90th minute to send Gillingham back to Kent with nothing.

It had all started so brightly for The Gills with five fresh faces on the pitch. Both Jack Evans and Connor Essam came into the side for their full league debuts. Simon King was back starting his first game for the club this season, whilst both Jack Payne and Chris Whelpdale were back amongst a much changed midfield.

With Joe Martin dropped to the bench, Danny Jackman reverted into the left back slot with the visitors starting with a 4-3-3 formation.

The freshness of the side paid dividends straight away with Essam and King looking a lot more assured that many of the pairings that had gone before them at the back.

Doug Loft did give The Gills a scare with a rasping drive that swerved over the bar, but Port Vale were mostly confined to strikes from distance in the first half.

Gillingham were a lot more incisive than they had been for some weeks with Gavin Tomlin looking as dangerous as ever, whilst Jack Evans found it much better to pick out a colleague with some decent well timed runs, rather than adopting to lump long balls up top.

It paid dividends just before the break when Evans and Tomlin combined before the latter swung in a pinpoint cross that Chris Whelpdale had the easy job of heading home.

The second half was as lively as the first with both sides looking for goals and Tomlin could have doubled Gillingham’s lead five minutes into the second period, but his attempt from Evans’ cross failed to trouble the keeper.

Vale made three changes just on the hour mark to freshen things up and it worked straight away with the home side forcing Paulo Gazzaniga into some fine saves to keep The Gills in front.

With just seven minutes left on the clock and Joe Martin on in place of Jo Kuffour, Tomlin was upended on the edge of the Vale box, but earnt nothing before the home side raced up the other end, ending in Loft crossing for Sean Rigg to head home.

Clearly deflated by conceding, Gillingham pushed for a winner with Tomlin going close once again, but heartache was to come their way on ninety minutes when Whelpdale conceded a penalty for a push on Marc Richards with the striker dusting himself off before stepping up and sending the ball into the bottom right corner.

Unable to find a precious equaliser in stoppage time, Gillingham’s travelling 188 fans faced a long journey home wondering where the winless run is going to end.

FULL TIME: PORT VALE 2-1 GILLINGHAM

Saturday’s defeat sees The Gills stay in 13th place in League Two, six points now outside the play-off places with Rotherham United visiting Priestfield on Tuesday night.

Port Vale line up: Tomlinson, Taylor, Griffith, McCombe, Loft, Dodds, Richards, Rigg, Morsy (Marshall 59), Williamson (Shuker 59), McDonald (Owen 59).

Subs not used: Martin, James.

Booked: Griffith (35), Loft (90+5).

Goals: Rigg (83), Richards (pen 90).

Gillingham line up: Gazzaniga, Evans, Essam, King, Jackman, Tomlin, J Payne, Weston, Whelpdale, Kuffour (Martin 77), Kedwell.

Subs not used: Richards, O Lee, Montrose, Miller.

Goal: Whelpdale (45+2).

Booked: King (45), Jackman (64).

Referee: Mr Darren Drysdale

Assts: Mr B Roberts & Mr B Toner

Attendance: 4,027 (188 Gills)