Gillingham were unable to make their good chances count as they were beaten by Crewe on Saturday.
The Gills had several big opportunities before Crewe took the lead through substitute Adrien Thibaut on 65 minutes – their first attempt on target. That one goal was enough for the home side to take all three points.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth made just one change to the Gills starting line-up as Robbie McKenzie replaced Bradley Dack in the XI. It meant recent signing Cameron Antwi was named on the bench again.
Gillingham were facing two away games in four days, and with both Crewe and midweek opponents Chesterfield sitting between themselves and the play-offs, they were games of significance.
The Gills had beaten Crewe 1-0 earlier in the season, at a time when they were heading for top spot. It’s been a struggle since those early months, and Ainsworth’s side started the weekend eight points off the play-off places.
Crewe had a decent home record ahead of the game, unbeaten at the Mornflake Stadium in their previous nine.
It was an even opening to the game with Garath McCleary looking sharp early on for the Gills and Crewe’s Tommi O’Reilly a handful on the opposite side.
McCleary’s trickery was an outlet down the right for the Gills and he combined well with striker Ronan Hale on a couple of occasions.
It was McKenzie who had the best of the early openings after being found in space by Hale but the shot was off target.
O’Reilly was always a threat and got lots of the ball, putting in a couple of dangerous balls into the box, but it was the Gills wh went closest to taking the lead before the break.
Sam Vokes met a corner from Armani Little at the far post but couldn’t beat keeper Ian Lawlor.
Gills reached the half without a goal but they had kept Crewe at arm’s reach with keeper Glenn Morris not having to make a save.
Gillingham’s positivity from the first 45 continued after the break.
They went close to an opener early in the second half when Max Clark was picked out in space by Little and his low shot needed blocking en route to goal by Mickey Demetriou.
Crewe had made a change at the break and another two with less than an hour gone as the Gills continued to put an end to their impressive home form.
McCleary again went close for the Gills when picked out by Vokes but Crewe had a man well-placed to make another timely block.
Vokes was next to go close, getting a slight touch to send Clark’s cross towards goal, but keeper Lawlor showed good reflexes to make the save.
The Gills hadn’t managed to convert any of their chances and were made to pay as one of Crewe’s subs pounced, Thibaut sliding the ball past Morris on 64 minutes from Demetriou’s pass.
Crewe’s O’Reilly went close to a second with a strong run through the middle but the shot was straight at Gills keeper Morris.
Thibaut headed a Matus Holicek cross wide late on for Crewe as the Gills left gaps at the back in search of an equalising goal.
Gillingham’s subs didn’t have the impact that was needed as Crewe managed to see the game out.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Akomeah, Beckles, Coleman (Dack 70mins), Little (Antwi 78mins), McKenzie, McCleary (Palmer-Houlden 78mins), Vokes (Andrews 70mins), Hale. Subs not used: Turner, A Smith, Gale.
Crewe: Lawlor, Billington, Hutchinson, Demetriou, Thomas (Lunt 46mins), Holicek (Bogle 90mins), Agius, Powell (Connolly 56mins), March (Thibaut 56mins), Pond, O’Reilly (Moore 81mins). Subs not used: Booth, Finney.
Referee: Martin Coy
Attendance: 4,972 (399 away)
