Two late goals denied a battling Gillingham side at the County Ground on Tuesday night.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side looked to have been on course for a well deserved point until Matt Ritchie fired the home side ahead with a 30 yard screamer into the top corner.

As the Gills went in search for an equaliser, Swindon countered and put the game beyond doubt when Jonathan Smith clipped the ball past Ross Flitney from the edge of the area.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler was forced into making two changes to the side that beat Oxford United at the weekend with both Joe Martin and Lewis Montrose suspended, so in came Charlie Lee and Danny Jackman.

Swindon manager Paulo Di Canio named an unchanged starting line-up for the third successive game, with the only changes coming on the bench, with Ahmed Abdulla replacing the suspended Mehdi Kerrouche and Alessandro Cibocchi coming in for Joe Devera.

There were few chances in the first 10 minutes of the game, with Rooney sending a long-range free kick over the bar while at the other end Jake Jervis headed well wide from Paul Caddis’ cross.

It took until the 24th minute for the first real opportunity to arrive when Caddis played an inviting ball across the face of goal and it seemed certain that Raffaele De Vita would poke home, but Matt Fish nipped in front of the Italian to clear the danger.

While Town had the better of the possession, the visitors looked good on the break and Foderingham was called into action for the first time in the game when Chris Whelpdale had sight of goal just inside the area but his powerful shot was well saved by the on-loan Crystal Palace keeper.

But Foderingham was to do even better 11 minutes before the break when he produced a superb one-handed save to deny a Kuffour header before Alan McMormack blocked the follow up on the line. That act of bravery resulted in the Irishman’s withdrawal through injury and he was replaced by Cibocchi.

The Gills started the second half better than Town but were still limited to half chances as Danny Jackman hit a snap shot well wide before the tricky Rooney saw his low drive blocked by his own player.

Town finally brought a save out of Ross Flitney nine minutes into the second period when they were awarded a free kick some 35 yards from goal and Cibocchi sent a dipping effort straight into the hands of the Gills shotstopper.

It was the Gills, though, who came closest again to opening the scoring as this time the post comes to Town’s rescue. Rooney, who Di Canio had picked out as the key player for the visitors, struck a low drive that had Foderingham beaten but the ball struck the inside of the upright, flashed across the face of goal before being cleared.

It seemed certain that the game was going to finish a goalless draw but Ritchie, who had been very quiet for much of the match, had other ideas. With just 10 minutes on the clock the winger received the ball around 30 yards from goal and he launched a spectacular shot into the top corner of the goal.

However, that lead was almost short lived when minutes later the Gills had a golden opportunity to level as Stefan Payne squared a pass across the face of goal for fellow substitute Danny Kedwell, who somehow failed to finish from six yards.

Any fears that the visitors would snatch something from the game were allayed when Smith wrapped up the scoring in injury time when the midfielder drilled home from over 30 yards.
FULL TIME: SWINDON TOWN 2-0 GILLINGHAM

Tuesday night’s defeat sees The Gills drop back out of the play-off zone into ninth in League Two and next up is the long trip to Morecambe on Saturday afternoon.

Swindon line up: Wes Foderingham, Paul Caddis, Alan McCormack (Alessandro Cibocchi 41), Aden Flint, Liam Ridehalgh, Matt

Ritchie, Simon Ferry, Jonathan Smith, Raffaele De Vita, Cristian Montano (Alan Connell 63), Jake Jervis (Oliver Risser 85).

Subs not used: Ahmed Abdulla, Lukas Magera.

Goals: Ritchie (80), Smith (90+1).

Booked: Smith (83).

Gillingham line up: Ross Flitney, Matt Fish, Garry Richards, Matt Lawrence, Danny Jackman, Chris Whelpdale, Curtis Weston (Stefan Payne 86), Charlie Lee, Luke Rooney, Jo Kuffour (Danny Kedwell 76), Frank Nouble.

Subs not used: Paulo Gazzaniga, Andy Frampton, Dean Rance.

Booked: Lee (32), Richards (57).

Referee: Mr D Coote

Attendance: 7,787