Gillingham surrendered the advantage at Priestfield as they were beaten by fellow strugglers Fleetwood Town.
Elliott Nevitt ended a run of 19 games without scoring after heading the Gills in front but goals from Mark Helm and Ryan Graydon turned it around for Fleetwood.
Gillingham hit the woodwork as they looked for an equaliser which never came, beaten again in what’s now becoming a desperate search for a victory.
Tuesday night’s game against Fleetwood Town was manager John Coleman’s ninth in charge of the Gills.
It’s a fixture that should have been his first, but a frozen Priestfield pitch led to a postponement of the game back in January. There were still hopes of a charge towards the play-offs back then.
Gillingham had improved in recent games but went into the midweek fixture without a win in 12.
Coleman gave big striker Oli Hawkins his first start since taking over as manager at Gillingham after handing him regular appearances off the bench.
Dropping from the matchday squad was Liverpool loanee Dom Corness.
Hawkins partnered Joe Gbode in attack with Nevitt playing in behind the front two in an attacking reshuffle by the manager.
Nevitt fired wide early on and Robbie McKenzie went even closer as he tried to pick out the far corner.
There were some inviting balls put into the Gills box that came and went in a half that took some time to burst into life.
Hawkins put a shot wide for the Gills and Ryan Graydon was flagged offside before he found the net for the visitors.
The opening goal arrived on 39 minutes. A throw taken by Max Clark in front of the noisy small band of away supporters was played back to him by Armani Little and when he crossed in, Nevitt stole a yard on his marker with a cushioned header beyond the keeper.
Rather than build on their advantage, the Gills retreated.
Elliot Bonds fired a speculative effort at Morris while Helm and Owen Devonport had shots blocked.
Fleetwood kept up the pressure and it paid off after a clearance fell to Helm and he smashed it back, a low effort beating Morris.
Five minutes into the second half and the Gills were opened up again.
Bonds got in down the right side and his pinpoint cross was beyond the reach of Gills keeper Morris and into the path of Graydon who prodded the ball home.
Clark’s powerful effort was saved by Town keeper Jay Lynch as the Gills looked to respond. Hutton also fired an angled effort into the arms of the visiting goalie.
It needed a great save low down from Morris to deny Mackenzie Hunt after he ran through the middle and looked to pick out the bottom corner.
Hawkins headed against the crossbar for the Gills and they went close again moments later. Hawkins had a header saved and Nevitt’s powerful follow up was also blocked by keeper Lynch.
Coleman turned to his bench with 15 minutes left with Jack Nolan, Bradley Dack and Jayden Clarke introduced. Nolan and Clarke took over the wing-back roles.
Helm had the chance to seal the points for Fleetwood but shot narrowly wide with 10 minutes left after a mistake from Sam Gale.
Morris saved with his feet to deny Hunt while at the other end Dack went close with a curling effort from the edge of the box that was deflected wide.
Defeat for Gillingham comes ahead of a now crucial game with second-from-bottom Morecambe on Saturday.
League 2 table
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton (Clarke 75mins), Clark (Nolan 75mins), Ehmer, Smith, Gale, McKenzie, Little, Nevitt, Gbode (Dack 75mins), Hawkins (Morgan 86mins). Subs not used: Turner, Khumbeni, Rowe.
Fleetwood: Lynch, Cover (Bennett 60mins), Hunt, Rooney, Wiredu, Bolton, Neal, Bonds, Helm, Graydon, Devonport (Marsh 68mins). Subs not used: Hewitson, Mayor, Potter, Moore, Patterson.
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 5,370 (80 away)
