Gillingham fell to defeat at promotion-chasing Notts County and it was another former loan player who did the damage.
Three days after ex-loan man Ben Thompson scored a hat-trick for Bromley against the Gills, it was another one-time Priestfield loanee, Scott Robertson, who got the opener for Notts County.
Ronan Hale and Sam Vokes were denied by brilliant home keeper James Belshaw as Robertson’s strike proved enough for Notts to claim all three points.
Gillingham went into the midweek clash smarting from a heavy 4-1 home loss to South Londoners Bromley at the weekend.
It was a poor defensive display against the league leaders and boss Gareth Ainsworth made changes at the back to try and make his team more solid.
Andy Smith dropped out of the squad completely and Conor Masterson was missing injured, which gave loan man Travis Akomeah the chance to reclaim a regular place in the starting line-up.
Akomeah was partnered at the back by debutant Omar Beckles.
The timely arrival of former Leyton Orient captain Beckles on transfer deadline day gave the manager an experienced head to help guide some inexperienced faces at the back.
Ainsworth declared after the loss to Bromley that he would put it right for this one – but they were facing an in-form Notts team.
The ‘Pies went into the game off the back of four straight wins and had second place in their sights. They were, however, missing key man Alassanta Jatta to injury. He’d scored in all four of those recent wins.
There were five changes in all for the Gills from the team that started at the weekend. Ethan Coleman came into midfield as Dack, Rowe and McCleary dropped to the bench. Ronan Hale and Seb Palmer-Houlden were picked to flank striker Josh Andrews in a 4-3-3 set-up.
Gillingham still looked vulnerable and Notts bossed the first half, taking a deserved lead on 28 minutes.
Ollie Norburn had just seen his long-range effort pushed wide by Gills keeper Glenn Morris. The resulting corner was only temporarily dealt with and when Norburn picked out Robertson in space, the midfielder showed a cool head to pick out the bottom corner.
Gillingham’s best early chance had fallen to Palmer-Houlden. A strong run from Armani Little was followed with a pass to the forward but Robertson did enough to put the Gills man off and he shot wide.
Leading 1-0, Nick Tsaroulla almost doubled County’s advantage, bending a shot wide after finding himself in space. Maz Kouhyar went close with an effort from the opposite side.
Hale – playing on the left of the front three – came close on a couple of occasions.
He almost got an equaliser from nothing as he crashed a 20-yard shot wide and moments later was denied by the quick actions of keeper James Belshaw, who came out strong to clear the ball, as the front-man looked to convert Robbie McKenzie’s pass.
Gillingham reached the break a goal down and Ainsworth sent the same eleven out for the second half to try and turn the tide in the match.
Robertson put a free-kick wide of the mark early in the second half after Max Clark had fouled Tom Iorpenda on the edge of the box.
A free-kick at the other end gave the Gills a chance to get themselves level but Hale sent the effort into the keeper’s arms. It was the start of a promising spell from the visitors, who were showing renewed spirit and causing the home crowd to start getting restless.
Changes came with an hour gone as Sam Vokes replaced Andrews and Palmer-Houlden made way for a more natural wide man in McCleary. Notts also made changes as they looked to get a grip of the game again.
Gills captain Little was well placed to deny Matty Platt after the Notts defender had muscled his way to the ball to head goalwards from a corner.
Home keeper Belshaw saved superbly to deny Vokes after fellow sub Bradley Dack had picked him out in the middle. The Gills striker didn’t have much time to think about his close-range shot but the Notts stopper reacted well to make a save.
Gillingham continued to threaten in and around the box as Notts dug deep to try and preserve their slender advantage.
Lee Ndlovu missed a chance to seal it for the home side from in front of goal but didn’t connect properly with just Morris to beat.
In the third of the four added-on minutes Belshaw made a brilliant stop to deny Hales from a last-gasp equaliser.
Gillingham: Morris, Gale (Hutton 71mins), Clark, Beckles, Akomeah, McKenzie (Dack 71mins), Coleman, Little, Palmer-Houlden (McCleary 63mins), Hale, Andrews (Vokes 63mins). Subs not used: Turner, Rowe, Antwi.
Notts County: Belshaw, Bedeau, Platt, Norburn, Iorpenda, Kouhyar, Dennis (Bennettes 81mins), Robertson, Tsaroulla, Hall (Ndlovu 63mins), Macari (Ness 63mins). Subs not used: Griffiths, Enoru, N Tangen, Grant.
Referee: Abigail Byrne
Attendance: 8.731 (403 away)
