Gillingham’s losing run was extended after conceding twice in stoppage-time at troubled Crawley Town.
Two out-of-form teams played out an uneventful first half, and it looked to be heading for a stalemate before Taylor Richards and Tobi Adeyemo struck in added-on time.
The Gills had lost their previous four games prior to their trip to Crawley Town, and it’s now five in a row.
Relegation-threatened Crawley had a new man at the helm following Scott Lindsey’s sacking following a 10-game winless run.
They turned to former Turkish international striker Colin Kazim-Richards to try and keep them above the League Two drop zone – starting his tenure against The Gills.
With Armani Little missing for Gillingham through suspension, Bradley Dack took the captain’s armband for the match – a week on from his stinging criticism of some team-mates after their loss to Bristol Rovers.
The Gills went into the fixture on a poor run of form and more enforced changes, as manager Gareth Ainsworth was without experienced centre-half Omar Beckles. The defender was added to the injury-list after picking up a training ground injury.
Shad Ogie and Jonny Williams dropped out of the squad as teenager Harry Waldock started in midfield again and fellow youngster Michael Luxton came into the squad.
Senior players Robbie McKenzie, Ethan Coleman and Cameron Antwi remained out injured, leaving Ainsworth with limited midfield options.
There was another change in goal, which saw Glenn Morris back between the sticks to face a club where he had previously made over 250 league appearances.
Morris, who had been suffering with an ankle injury, didn’t have too much work to do in an opening half that lacked quality.
His only save of the first 45 came when he got down well at his near post to keep out a shot from Ade Adeyemo, the Crawley player beating Max Clark to create the opening.
Gillingham’s only on-target effort of the first half came with the last bit of play, Andy Smith heading Bradley Dack’s cross goalwards but keeper Jacob Chapman held on comfortably enough.
The closest the Gills had got before that was a shot from Ronan Hale that whizzed just past the post – a chance that came moments after Crawley’s Jay Williams had put a shot wide himself at the other end.
It was goalless at the break, a scoreline that suited the Gills better than Crawley.
The hosts suffered an early blow in the second half when forward Danilo Orsi was forced off with an injury.
Orsi’s big chance midway through the first half had been ended thanks to Garath McCleary, the 38-year-old charging back to tackle the Crawley player as Max Clark was all that stood between him and Morris’ goal.
The Gills were thwarted by their former player Scott Malone after Josh Andrews met a cross from Remeao Hutton and headed at goal.
With the game livening up, Morris saved twice from home substitute McKirdy while Palmer-Houlden smashed a volley over the home end for the Gills.
Ade Adeyemo’s wild shot made Palmer-Houlden’s effort look close.
Keeper Chapman comfortably held onto a header from Gills substitute Sam Vokes, the last chance the visitors had of scoring.
Crawley got the goal they needed in the second minute of added-on time, Richards squeezing in a shot past Morris from the edge of the box.
With Gills defender Andy Smith sent forward to help find an equaliser, there were plenty of gaps a the back, which Tobi Adeyemo exploited. He had room to pick his spot and make it 2-0, finding the net with a shot in off the post.
Gillingham: Morris, Clark, Smith, Gale, Hutton, McCleary, Waldock, Dack, Andrews (Vokes 71mins), Palmer-Houlden (Rowe 71mins), Hale. Subs not used: Turner, Akomeah, Khumbeni, Cirino, Luxton.
Crawley: Chapman, Malone, Barker, L Richards (Odimayo 81mins), Pereira (T Richards 74mins), A Adeyemo, Williams, Copley (Anderson 74mins), Darcy (Forster 74mins), T Adeyemo, Orsi (McKirdy 48mins). Sub not used: Lolos
Referee: Edward Duckworth
Attendance: 4,338 (909 away)
