Gillingham were billed as “party-poopers” on the final day of the season as they travelled to promoted Port Vale knowing the home side had to win to possibly win the League Two title – and so it proved as Aaron Rowe’s second half strike brought the points back to Kent. 

Not that it mattered in the end as Doncaster Rovers won at Notts County to seal the title, but in the terms of the Priestfield renaissance the fact that the side have finished the season unbeaten in twelve, and given their scoring problems all season, having netted in eleven of those twelve, is a massive boost for everyone at the Club and totally vindicates the Gallinson’s decision to bring Gareth Ainsworth in when he did, after John Coleman had steadied what was a sinking ship either side of Christmas! 

When Ainsworth spoke to KSN this past week, the former Port Vale player said he hoped that the home fans would applaud his return to Vale Park before kick off as he intended that his Gillingham side would leave Burslem with the points, and thanks to Rowe’s first goal in blue, he was right as his unbeaten start at Priestfield continued as the season ends with the Gills unbeaten since mid-March. 

Without the injured Elliott Nevitt and the suspended pair of Joe Gbode and Jonny Williams, the starting eleven showed four changes as the game’s opening was very quiet as the tension possibly began to get to the home side. 

Player of the Year Glenn Morris was tested by Ronan Curtis from distance, but comfortably held on before Lorent Tolaj missed the best chance of the half on the stroke of half time for the title chasers. Curtis and Michael Clarke combined well, but as the ball fell to Tolaj, he skied the chance. 

Rowe and Max Clark had early shots for the Gills as the second period began – Rowe shooting straight at keeper Ben Amos, whilst Clark shot wide – before eleven minutes into the half, Rowe scored his first Gillingham goal and boy it was worth the wait! He got the ball outside the box, looked up and curled a sensational shot which Amos could do nothing about as it flew into the top corner of the net as it quietened the home side even more as Doncaster were effectively Champions already being two nil ahead at Notts County. 

With the Championship gone, the home side suddenly became focused on getting something out of the final day, but Morris and his defenders held on reasonably comfortable to keep their fifteenth clean sheet of this ridiculous season. Sam Gale made one sensational block, and Morris was extremely vigilant in keeping out George Byers awkward effort that bounced just in front of the Gills goal. 

The final whistle saw a massive party, with the 13,000 home fans celebrating promotion to League One and the 600 travelling Gillingham fans, buoyed on by another fine result of recovery, the seeds of which over the past few weeks now mean, than those dressed in blue who call MEMS Priestfield as home, they cannot wait for August and under the guidance of Ainsworth, to see what a new campaign will being… after all “there’s always next year!” 

PORT VALE – Amos, Debrah, Smith (Stockley), Hall, Clark, Byers, Croasdale (Richards), Walters (Harper), Headley (Shorrock), Tolaj, Curtis (Hackford) 

Subs – Broome, Lowe  

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Hutton, Gale, Masterson, Max Clark, McKenzie, Euan Williams (Coleman), Corness (Khumbeni), Agbinone (Andrews), Rowe (Ogie), Morgan (Dack) 

Subs – Holtam, Webster 

REFEREE – Mr. Miles 

Images courtesy of Gillingham FC