Gillingham’s unbeaten start to the League One season ended with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing at Scunthorpe United.
Most of the damage was done in the first half as the home side swept into a 3-0 lead.
Gillingham never recovered from a fifth-minute blooper by goalkeeper Stuart Nelson which gifted the home side the lead. He should have collected a speculative 25-yard shot from Kevin Van Veen but allowed it to slip through his grasp and into the net.
In-form Scunthorpe made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 20th minute when Josh Morris converted confidently after he himself had been brought down just inside the box.
There was no stopping Scunthorpe and on the stroke of half-time they made it 3-0 when full-back Jordan Clarke popped up at the far post to head home an inswinging right-wing corner from Morris.
Gillingham’s misery continued in the second half when another mistake by Nelson on 59 minutes allowed a long-range shot from Morris to squeeze past him to make it 4-0.
The visitors were denied even a consolation goal late on when an angled drive from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was turned away at full stretch by Luke Daniels.
Instead, it was Scunthorpe, now second in the table, who made it 5-0 in the 83rd minute when striker Tom Hopper converted a low cross into the box from Hakeeb Adelakun.
It should have been 6-0 but substitute Scott Laird’s tame stoppage-time penalty was easily saved by Nelson after Conor Townsend had been brought down in the box.
Gillingham will hope to put the defeat behind them swiftly as they now turn their attention to their EFL Cup away to Watford on Tuesday night, but go into the game sitting 10th in League One.
Scunthorpe United line up: Daniels, Wallace, Mirfin, Dawson, Morris (Laird 85), Bishop, Hopper, Holmes (Adelakun 32), Townsend, Clarke, Van Veen (Wootton 73).
Subs not used: Anyon, Wiseman, King, Goode.
Goals: van Veen (5), Morris (20, pen 59), Clarke (45+2), Hopper (82).
Gillingham line up: Nelson, Oshilaja, Konchesky, Ehmer, Pask, Wright, Byrne, Knott (List 65), Osadebe (Oldaker 75), Donnelly (McDonald 65), Emmanuel-Thomas.
Subs not used: Hadler, Hessenthaler, Dickenson, Dack.
Booked: Emmanuel-Thomas (64).
Referee: Mr David Webb
Attendance: 3,718