Gillingham slipped to defeat against one of their biggest “bogey” teams as their woeful run at Walsall continued as the Sadlers won courtesy of a huge deflection and a ninety-sixth minute second as the Gills were caught on the break.

Although Gillingham have won two of their last four visits to the Midlands, the record at Walsall beyond that is poor indeed with the next triumph being in 1992 – or fifteen prior visits.

And to prove it wasn’t the Gills’ day after a tight opening half, Isaac Hutchison’s shot looked harmless until it hit Max Ehmer in the back and apologetically rolled past Glenn Morris.

And Morris could do nothing to deny Conor Wilkinson a second six minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game when the Gills were chasing that elusive equaliser – it was the former Gills striker’s first goal in an injury savaged year!

Hutchison had an early header that Morris did well to tip over whilst the Gills had to wait until the half’s midway point when Tom Nichols header grazed the bar.

Nichols was inches away from converting a Tim Dieng ball before Andy Williams missed the best chance of the half for the home side – Morris making a fine save to touch his drive over the Gills crossbar.

Five minutes into the second half Hutchison’s massive slice of luck gave the home side the lead – their first home goal in seven and a half hours.

Aidan O’Brien and Oli Hawkins both missed out with half chances before Dieng came agonisingly close to levelling the game in the last minute of the ninety with a drive that didn’t miss the post by much.

Wilkinson made his old club pay as he beat Morris in the sixth minute of stoppage time which dropped Gillingham down to twentieth place and just seven points off the bottom two.

Neil Harris will be looking – or demanding – an improvement in Tuesday when the Gills play their game in hand on many of the sides around them as Crewe Alexandra come to Priestfield… ten points sounds an awful lot better than seven doesn’t it?

WALSALL – Evans, Riley (Songo’o 81), McEntee, Daniels, Monthe, Kinsella, Comley, Maddox (Low 53), Hutchinson, Knowles (Stevens 81), Williams (Wilkinson 74).

Subs not used – Smith, Gordon, Maher.

Goals: Hutchinson (50), Wilkinson (96).

Booked: Hutchinson (92), Comley (95).

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Alexander (Abrahams 91), Ehmer, Masterson, Tutonda (McKenzie 74), Williams, Dieng (Jefferies 75), Lapslie (MacDonald 58), O’Brien, Hawkins, Nichols.

Subs not used – Turner, Wright.

Booked: O’Brien (31).

REFEREE – Sunny Singh Gill

Attendance: 6709