Gillingham’s winless run continued as they started the new year with a defeat at old rivals Swindon Town.
A positive opening half failed to produce a goal for the Gills, and they fell behind to a Ryan Tafazolli header just before the hour mark. Jonny Smith hit the post late on, but earlier missed chances proved costly for the visitors, as Swindon added an injury-time second through Aaron Drinan.
It’s now no wins in nine for the Gills following the New Year’s Day loss at Swindon.
Gillingham had drawn more games than any other team in the Football League during 2025 – 24 from 27 games – and went into 2026 off the back of a successive home draws over Christmas.
Backed by close to 900 fans, the Gills would have been happy with a draw at high-flying Swindon but left with nothing to show for their efforts.
It was a tough start to the year for Gillingham, up against Swindon Town who began 2026 sitting joint second in League 2.
The Gills were 11th place ahead of the game, six points off the play-off places, with just one win in 14. It was form they needed to turn around fast to keep in the promotion race.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth had rotated his team, making five changes from the one which kicked off against Colchester United three days earlier.
Ainsworth changed up half of his outfield team with Max Clark, Ethan Coleman, Jonny Williams, Elliott Nevitt and Josh Andrews all back in the eleven as the likes of Bradley Dack were given a breather.
Swindon included a trio of former Gillingham players in their starting line-up. They were captained by Will Wright and also included midfielders Darren Oldaker and Tom Nichols in the team.
The Gills had ex-Swindon players Jonny Williams and Remeao Hutton in their side, both on the receiving end of jeers by the home crowd.
It was a reasonably good first 45 minutes from the Gills, even better considering the quality of the opposition, and the visitors had arguably the best chances of the opening half.
Busy looking Aaron Rowe did well to dig out a shot after running onto the ball from Williams’ flick-on.
Josh Andrews headed an effort at the home keeper and Elliott Nevitt nodded over from a corner.
The Gills had started the game positively, with a handful of long throws and a corner that home keeper Connor Ripley was untroubled by.
Hutton abandoned the long throws late in the half, with a couple of quickly taken ones instead, which Swindon also did well to defend.
Swindon reached the break without a shot on target. Oldaker had smashed a couple of efforts well off the mark and Aaron Drinan also volleyed wide when he chased a ball over the top.
An early second-half shot from Williams fell kindly for the keeper after taking a deflection.
Gavin Kilkenny fired over a chance for Swindon before the home side took the lead on 59 minutes.
Finely Munroe whipped in a free-kick and a glancing header from Tafazolli took it beyond the reach of the Gills keeper.
The goalscoring defender showed his quality at the other end moments later to block a shot from Nevitt.
Former Swindon man Williams was only denied an equaliser after Ripley produced a stunning save to keep his effort out after Nevitt crossed. Moments before that he’d also saved well to keep out Ethan Coleman’s header.
Nevitt should have scored himself with 20 minutes left, or at least tested the keeper, racing in on goal but he never pulled the trigger, allowing Munroe to get back and win the ball off him.
Josh Andrews also went close as the Gills kept the pressure on the Swindon goal from a series of corners. Jonny Smith had a shot blocked from one of them.
Jonny Smith crashed a low shot off the upright with three minutes left during a lively display off the bench.
Gillingham’s hopes of salvaging a draw ended when Drinan headed the ball in from a right-sided cross in stoppage-time.
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Clark, Gale, A Smith, Coleman (McKenzie 68mins), Little, J Williams (J Smith 68mins), Rowe (Dack 68mins), Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden 79mins), Andrews (Vokes 84mins). Subs not used: Morris, Masterson.
Swindon: Ripley, McGregor, Mabete (Tabor 48mins), Tafazolli, Wright, Nichols, Oldaker (Ball 82mins), Kilkenny, Munroe, Palmer, Drinnan. Subs not used: Ward, Ehibhatiomhan, Kirkman, Gonzalez.
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance: 9,986 (896 away)
