Gillingham won on the final day of the season at promoted Port Vale to end their campaign on a high.
Aaron Rowe gave Gillingham the lead, with his first goal for the club, after a tame first half for the visitors. Lorent Tolaj wasted Port Vale’s best chance in the opening half as the Gills won 1-0.
Vale were already promoted and had to better the result of leaders Doncaster Rovers to take the title. With the Yorkshire side winning at Notts County, the Valiants had to settle for second place in the table.
Gillingham end a disappointing season with hope for what lies ahead, 12 unbeaten with three wins from their last six.
Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to his starting line-up and also switched formation. Out went the wing-backs as the manager reverted to a four-man defence.
At the other end of the field he put faith in loan strikers Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Chelsea) and Asher Agbinone (Crystal Palace).
Morgan played between Agbinone and Aaron Rowe in a three-man attack for the Gills.
A sell-out home crowd were there to watch, along with several hundred fans cheering on the Gills, with renewed confidence ahead of a busy summer for Ainsworth.
The Gills spent most of the first half defending, reaching the interval without an attempt at the home goal.
Vale were unable to make their dominance count during the opening 45 minutes, however, with Lorent Tolaj wasting their best chance just before the interval.
Ronan Curtis had picked a hole in the Gills defence to find Mitch Clark and his low cross for Tolaj just needed tapping past Glenn Morris but he lifted the effort over the bar.
Other half chances for the hosts came and went. Morris claimed a shot from Curtis and watched as Clark volleyed another effort over the bar.
Gillingham’s first shot of the game came shortly after the restart but Rowe’s attempt from the edge of the box didn’t have much power behind it and keeper Ben Amos comfortably saved.
Gills had another chance to test the keeper soon after when Rowe was fouled on the edge of the box. Morgan didn’t get a decent connection as he hit the wall with his shot but Clark wasn’t far off with the follow-up.
Rowe had been in the thick of the action since the start of the second half and he fired home in front of the away fans, making space on the edge of the box before picking out the top corner.
Home substitute Jayden Stockley forced Morris into action as Vale looked to respond.
Shad Ogie’s introduction from the bench saw the Gills go back to a five-man defence which Ainsworth had been playing since taking over as manager.
Gillingham continued to frustrated the hosts and Ainsworth gave fit-again striker Josh Andrews 10 minutes at the end of the game as his last change of the afternoon.
Vale were pushing for an equaliser. Gale produced a great last-gasp challenge to keep them out before Morris came to Gillingham’s rescue moments later to deny George Byers.
The hosts had a couple of late corners but the Gills hung on to win.
League 2 table
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Gale, Masterson, Corness (Khumbeni 63mins), McKenzie, E Williams (Coleman 63mins), Rowe (Ogie 69mins), Morgan (Dack 63mins), Agbinone (Andrews 81mins). Subs not used: Holtam, Andrews, Webster.
Port Vale: Amos, Clark, Hall, Smith (Stockley 56mins), Byers, Curtis (Hackford 78mins), Croasdale (Richards 57mins), Tolaj, Debrah, Headley (Shorrock 84mins), Walters (Harper 78mins). Subs not used: Broome, Lowe.
Referee: Jacob Miles
Attendance: 13,661 (599 away)
