Despite a much-improved performance it’s three losses on the bounce as Gillingham were defeated by two second half goals from Swindon Town.

Gillingham fought hard against an organised and effective Swindon side. They had the better of the possession and far more shots on goal than the visitors, but proved unable to find the net, while Swindon were clinical and converted their only two shots on target.

Having conceded five goals in each of their two previous matches, Gillingham had to put in a performance against promotion-chasing Swindon.

With several first-team regulars back from injury, Gareth Ainsworth made eight changes to the side that lost against Cambridge on Saturday. Glenn Morris, Andy Smith, Aaron Rowe, Jonny Williams and Seb Palmer-Houlden all dropped to the bench, while Travis Akomeah, Nelson Khumbeni and Lennie Cirino dropped out of the squad altogether. They were replaced by Jake Turner, Remeao Hutton, Armani Little, Josh Andrews, Shad Ogie, Bradley Dack, Sam Gale and Omar Beckles.

Swindon manager, Ian Holloway, made just two changes, bringing in Billy Bodin for Tom Nichols and Darren Oldaker for Ollie Clarke.

The first ten minutes were solid, but uneventful for Gillingham, with just one moment of jeopardy as Turner spilled a ball he was trying to collect on the edge of the box, but Beckles was on hand to cover before the Swindon front three could pounce on it.

Ronan Hale had the Gills’ first attempt – a powerful volley that went narrowly wide to Connor Ripley’s right.

Gillingham grew into the game, looking more composed on the ball and solid in defence than in their previous two outings. However, chances on goal were scarce, thanks to an organised Swindon defence.

Hale looked to be the main goal threat for the home side as he chased down several lofted through balls and made a nuisance of himself in the Swindon half.

Hale almost scored a spectacular opener. He picked up the ball from Max Clark on the edge of the Swindon box, beat the defender, then launched a right-footed thunderbolt that Ripley did extremely well to tip over the bar.

The home fans were convinced they had scored a few minutes later when Beckles deftly glanced a header goalwards from the near post, but it was somehow scrambled off the line to safety.

Gillingham continued to apply the pressure in the closing minutes of the half. They had plenty of attacking possession to the point where Beckles was largely playing as a third centre-forward.

Hale continued to be the most likely to open the scoring. The home fans thought he was through on goal, following a lofted through ball from Dack, but he was flagged offside. Minutes later, he was trying to break into the Swindon half after a corner, but was dragged down by the opposition skipper Will Wright, who was awarded a yellow card.

The first half ended after a long-range effort from 19-year-old Harry Waldock flew over the bar.

The second half began with more pressure from Gillingham. The ball was quickly moved into the Swindon box and Hale forced a corner, which came to nothing.

Gillingham’s best chance of the game came in the 56th minute. A quickly taken free kick found Hutton alert on the right wing. His cross was aimed at Hale on the back post, who had to backpedal to reach it. He poked the ball agonizingly across goal where it was almost turned in but somehow blocked on the line.

Moments later, Dack had a fizzing shot from just outside the box, which skimmed the top of the Swindon crossbar, which brought the Rainham End into full voice.

This sustained period of pressure made Ian Holloway turn to his bench as he brought on three substitutes to help cope with Gillingham’s attacking play.

In the 69th minute, the deadlock was finally broken, but surprisingly by the away side.

Completely against the run of play, Aaron Drinnan picked up a loose ball from a goalkeeper’s clearance, just outside the Gillingham box. He found a yard of space between the centre-backs, broke away from them and placed a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner. It was Swindon’s first shot on target.

Gillingham continued to attack with shots from distance blocked and dangerous looking crosses into the box intercepted with some well-positioned defenders.

Swindon very nearly made it 2-0 when substitute Ollie Palmer spotted Turner off his line and fired off a shot from around 40-yards away that had the keeper beaten, but it just glided over the bar.

Hale had another good chance to score in the 80th minute. Following a corner, the ball looped high towards him on the edge of the box. He volleyed it hard towards the bottom corner, but it was just deflected behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

Ainsworth made three changes, bringing on Palmer-Houlden, Vokes and Garath McCleary for Hale, Andrews and Clark.

Swindon secured the points in the 86th minute with their second goal. Following a throw-in, the ball was shifted wide on the right to substitute Joel McGregor, who threaded an inch-perfect cross through the Gillingham defence to fellow substitute Fletcher Holman at the far post. Holman tucked the ball comfortably into the bottom-right corner.

The seven minutes of additional time gave the home side a slim hope of a late St Patrick’s Day miracle, but with their main goal threat subbed off, the attacks looked scrappier than before as they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

The final whistle blew as the last of a series of Gillingham attacks was comfortably snuffed out by the organised Swindon defence.

The performance from Gillingham was a definite improvement on previous weeks as the home fans showed their appreciation for their tenacity and fight after the final whistle. However, it was still a loss, making it three in a row, and a loss where most of the first team were available.

While Ainsworth and the fans will take some solace that there was a positive reaction from the side following two humiliating defeats, this defeat – much like the last one against Swindon – typified why Gillingham are currently 16th in the table. They simply do not score enough goals when they have momentum in the game and concede against the run of play.

If there is indeed a two-year plan, this is precisely the conundrum Ainsworth will need to solve if he is serious about Gillingham returning to League One.

Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Clark (McCleary 81’), Little, Andrews (Vokes 81’), Ogie, Dack, Waldock, Gale, Hale (Palmer-Houlden 81’), Beckles.

Subs Not Used: Morris, Smith, Williams, Rowe.

Goals:

Booked: Beckles 27’

Swindon: Ripley, Wright, Nichols, Tafazolli, Kilkenny, Knight-Lebel, Drinan, Batty (Kirkman 59’), Hoilett (Palmer 60’), Bodin (Holman 59’), Oldaker (McGregor 74’).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Mabete, Borland.

Goals: Drinnan 69’, Holman 86’

Booked: Wright 43’, Tafazolli 45’, Drinnan 77’,

 HT 0 – 0 FT 0 – 2

Att: 4991 (297)

Referee: Mrs Emily Heaslip

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC