Gillingham’s season hit new depths on Tuesday night at Priestfield as Bolton Wanderers duplicated the 4-0 drubbing TV inflicted on the Gills before Christmas.

For Ady Pennock and the bulk of the 5,500 crowd watching on this was hard to take, especially after the magnificent fight-back at the weekend that had seen off Scunthorpe United.  Yes there were mitigating circumstances with players suspended and injured, but the Gills were undone by basic defensive mistakes in the opening 45 minutes that were really hard for the Priestfield faithful to take.

Behind after only three minutes to a corner that somehow was allowed to travel all the way to the back post unchallenged, the defensive frailties raised their ugly head again on 15 minutes when Le Fondre was left with left with a ridiculous amount of time and space and the freedom of the Rainham End to head a second.  And when the visitors made it three with an unopposed near post header on the stroke of half time, the home faithful could have been excused to being shell-shocked.

Three minutes after the break it was four-nil when Vela prodded home, and that could easily have signalled a complete capitulation by the home side.  But at long last, spirit finally emerged, and although the Gills didn’t force visiting keeper into making a save of note, at least the scoring was halted at four.

The agony started after only three minutes when a corner from Morais to the back post eluded Stuart Nelson and his defenders, and allowed Wheater to squeeze the ball into the net.  It got worse for the Gills on 15 minutes when Le Fondre completely unmarked header (from Morais’s cross) gave a statuesque Nelson no chance.  As Bolton celebrated, there as a lot of finger wagging – and it wasn’t just in the crowd as Nelson and Zesh Rehman held a “discussion” over the goal…

Stunned not quite into total submission, the Gills eventually rallied their game as the half wore on.  Bradley Dack’s free kick was spilled by keeper Alnwick but there wasn’t a blue shirt in sight, whilst the same player force the Bolton keeper into his only noteworthy save of the night with a low drive.

Just as you thought the Gills had completely recovered came the killer third in the last minute of the half.  Again it came from tormentor in chief Morais and another corner, but this time, Beevers managed to get a header in at the near post almost unopposed which flew in.  As Pennock trudged down the Priestfield touchline towards the dressing room, he was clearly fuming and it caused some to wonder what would have been said to him and his “partners” in his playing days if he’d have ever defended as poorly or as flat footedly as his keeper and the back line had done in those depressing opening 45 minutes.

Sadly whatever had been said at the break didn’t have time to be digested properly as within three minutes of the restart it was four-nil – Morais again sprinted clear and his clever ball across the face of goal was turned home by Vela.

It could have been five on the hour but Nelson pulled off an amazing reaction save to deny Wilson from Le Fondre’s fabulous dinked ball – somehow the Gills keeper managed to get his fingertips to the strikers flick.

Sadly that was to prove to be the “high” spot of another desperately disappointing display by Nelson and those in front of him – it’s a long road trip ahead for the Gills squad at the weekend to Rochdale, and dare we suggest, a lot of time for some serious soul searching as the team bus head north on the nations motorway network, as even the most die-hard Gills fan will concede that many more 90 minutes like these and Pennock’s troops will be in deep, deep trouble as it leaves them still sixteenth and seven points in front of Port Vale – who worryingly have three games in hand!

Gillingham will be desperate to bounce back from this poor result and head to Rochdale on Saturday sitting 16th in League One, some seven points above the relegation zone.

Gillingham line up: Nelson, Ehmer, Oshilaja, Rehman, Hessenthaler, Byrne, Muldoon, Martin (Osadebe 86), Dack, McDonald (List 87), Quigley (Parker 62).

Subs not used: Holy, Dickenson, Cundle, Mbo.

Booked: Muldoon (64), Byrne (78).

Bolton Wanderers line up: Alnwick, Dervite, Beevers, Wheater, Morais (Henry 85), Taylor, Pratley (Karacan 71), Osede, Vela, Le Fondre, Madine (Clayton 78).

Subs not used: Howard, Moxey, Trotter, Long.

Goals: Wheater (3), Le Fondre (15), Beevers (45+2), Vela (49).

Booked: Madine (74).

Referee: Mr Tim Robinson

Attendance: 5,199 (517 Bolton)