Gillingham’s poor form continued as they were beaten 1-0 by Preston North End at Priestfield on Tuesday night.
Peter Taylor’s side had impressed in the first half, hitting the woodwork and having two attempts either saved or cleared off the line, but it was the visitors that took the spoils.
Preston were denied by the woodwork an incredible four times, but the sucker punch came on the hour mark as Paul Huntington headed home Chris Humphrey’s cross at the far post.
In front of a crowd of just 4,632 and the wind howling around Priestfield, Gillingham took to the field with Stuart Nelson restored in goal with Stephen Bywater dropping to the bench, whilst striker Danny Kedwell was back in a Gills shirt to the delight of the home support.
Left back Joe Martin had recovered from his back injury, although Kortney Hause, Amine Linganzi, Callum Davies and Aaron Morris sat out the game through injury and Doug Loft was serving the second game of his suspension.
That forced manager Peter Taylor’s hand somewhat as he went into the game with the best possible squad at his disposal.
It was a bright start for The Gills and on another day could have found themselves a few goals in front, but on the flip side they could have been a few behind.
Both sides carved open chances with Danny Kedwell having the best of them in the eighth minute, but somehow Preston keeper Jamie Jones managed to palm his headed effort around the post.
At the other end Joe Garner’s looping header went over Nelson and on to the top of the bar.
In the 15th minute Gillingham thought they had scored the opening goal of the game, but Buchanan was in the right place to clear John Egan’s header off the line.
Eight minutes later and Kedwell narrowly missed the target with a diving header, with the Gillingham captain feeling he had been impeded at the time.
In the 34 minute Gillingham carved open yet another chance as Brennan Dickenson cut in from the left and curled a right footed effort onto the post.
That proved to be crucial as the two teams went in astonishingly goalless at the break.
A different Gillingham team seemed to take to the pitch for the second half with Preston clearly going through the gears and in truth, there was only two real chances for Peter Taylor’s side in the second 45 minutes.
One saw Dickenson go on a mazy run down the left and blaze over with the other coming from a lay off by Kedwell to Cody McDonald, but his stabbed effort at goal was cleared by Jones’ legs.
The remainder of the half belonged to Preston and they took the lead in the 60th minute when Huntington rose the highest at the far post to head home.
The warning signs had been there for The Gills as Preston hit the woodwork twice in the build up with Huntington heading against the bar and Robinson headed against the post.
Gillingham had one half chance as the game drew to a conclusion with Leon Legge heading over from a corner, but Preston could have added another when Kevin Davies came off the bench to tee up Paul Gallagher, but his effort hit the bar in the 87th minute.
Four added minutes yielded nothing for Gillingham and the fans made for the Priestfield exits in double quick time.
FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 0-1 PRESTON NORTH END
The defeat sees The Gills drop to 19th place in League One, just a point off bottom placed Scunthorpe and pressure for a victory against Crawley Town at Priestfield on Saturday mounts.
Gillingham line up: Nelson, Hoyte, Egan, Legge, Martin, Hessenthaler, McGlashan (German 76), Pritchard (Dack 72), Dickenson, Kedwell (Norris 76), McDonald.
Subs not used: Bywater, Fish, Hare, Staunton.
Booked: Egan (90).
Preston NE line up: Jones, Laird, King, Huntington, Buchanan, Humphrey (Reid, 73), Browne, Kilkenny, Robinson (Davies, 85) Gallagher, Garner.
Subs not used: Stuckmann, Ryan, K Davies, Holmes, Welsh, Brownhill.
Goal: Huntingdon (59).
Booked: Buchanan (71).
Referee: Mr James Linington
Attendance: 4632 (216 Preston)