Gillingham gave up a first-half lead at Fleetwood as they were beaten on the road.
Bradley Dack fired the Gills ahead at Highbury but Ryan Graydon levelled early in the second half. Dack was denied his second by the woodwork and visiting keeper Jake Turner saved a Ched Evans penalty before ex-Gillingham loan man Zech Medley won it late on for Fleetwood.
Fleetwood went into the game boasting an Impressive home record, with just one league defeat at their own ground prior to the visit of the Gills.
Gareth Ainsworth’s men had drawn five in a row ahead of the weekend trip.
The Gills boss initially made just one change to the team from the previous week. Defender Andy Smith replaced Ethan Coleman in the XI, which meant Robbie McKenzie moving back into his more familiar midfield role alongside captain Armani Little.
Winger Garath McCleary didn’t complete the warm-up, however, and was replaced in the team by Seb Palmer-Houlden.
The game took some time to come to life – played on a pitch that was cutting up badly – with Gillingham’s only early effort coming from Aaron Rowe, which went well over the bar.
It was from another wayward Rowe shot on 14 minutes that the led to Gillingham’s opener, the miscued effort eventually picked up by Dack. His low drive goalwards was deflected past keeper Jay Lynch.
The hosts, particularly their manager Pete Wild, spent much of the half disputing decisions by the officials, which led to several verbal confrontations between the benches, and a booking for one of the Fleetwood coaches.
Gillingham had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee after Sam Gale was clattered into by keeper Lynch, following Dack’s ball into the box from a free-kick.
The Gills reached the break with the one-goal lead intact thanks to a goalline clearance from Palmer-Houlden as Fleetwood threatened to convert from a corner, headed on by Finley Potter.
Prior to that the Gills had rarely looked like conceding in what was an impressive first 45 minutes.
Gillingham’s lead was cancelled out eight minutes into the second half when Ethan Ennis’ cross was headed in by Graydon.
The Gills had given up a two-goal lead the week before and once again saw their advantage wiped out.
Fleetwood had their tails up and Turner had to save with his legs to deny Graydon a second, moments after also being called into action when Rowe’s clearance was deflected back towards his own goal.
The game had really opened up and the Gills went close themselves when Rowe’s ball into the box was headed backwards by Dack, with the post denying him a goal.
Fleetwood’s Ennis was close with a free-kick and Lewis McCann wasn’t far off converting with a shot that flashed across the goal.
With eight minutes left Fleetwood were awarded a penalty for a foul on Evans but he couldn’t convert the spot-kick as Turner made a save low down to his right.
Fleetwood had their second goal moments later, however, when former Gills loan player Medley struck from close range to convert an Evans cross with five minutes of normal time to play.
Gillingham: Turner, Akomeah, Gale, A Smith, Hutton, Rowe, McKenzie, Little (Coleman 86mins), Palmer-Houlden (J Smith 79mins), Dack, Nevitt. Subs not used: Holtam, Clark, J Williams, Ogie.
Fleetwood: Lynch, Potter, Bonds, Graydon (W Davies 73mins), Virtue (Medley 79mins), Helm (Neal 66mins), McCann (J Davies 79mins), Ennis, Evans, Hughes, Mullarkey. Subs not used: Harrington, Morrison, Haughey.
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Attendance: 3,001 (2561 away)
