The inquest opens into Accrington's opener after just 45 seconds. Picture by Barry Goodwin.

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham suffered a second successive 4-3 defeat to heap the pressure on manager Andy Hessenthaler.

A terrible first 45 minutes saw the Gills trailing 4-1 with Danny Jackman's free-kick proving scant consolation.

Gavin Tomlin netted twice in the second half, as Hessenthaler's men attempted a fightback, but it wasn't enough.

The Gills were hoping to bounce back from last week's 4-3 defeat to AFC Wimbledon but endured a torrid first 45 minutes.

Hessenthaler had threatened changes to his side but made just one as Andy Frampton came into the starting line-up to replace Matt Lawrence.

But it took just 45 seconds for the Gills to concede their first goal and by the end of the half they were 4-1 down.

The opening goal came from a mistake from keeper Ross Flitney as his throw found an Accrington man and ended in Michael Smith scoring the first of his treble.

Gillingham levelled the scores with seven minutes gone with a perfectly executed free-kick from Jackman. But that was a rare highlight for the Gills.

The last meeting ended in a 7-4 win for Accrington and this match looked to be heading in the same direction.

With 20 minutes gone Accrington went ahead again as Luke Joyce's cross was stabbed home by Smith, with a shot that squirmed under Flitney's grasp.

Accrington looked a threat every time they attacked and a third goal came with half an hour on the clock as Joyce struck from the edge of the box.

The half ended with a fourth goal in stoppage time. Lewis Montrose gave the ball away and a Peter Murphy cross was stabbed home by Smith to complete his hat-trick.

Hessenthaler took off his under-performing keeper Flitney at the break and also brought on Curtis Weston for Jack Payne. Gills midfielder Payne had been struggling with a knock picked up early in the game.

The Gills, backed by 261 travelling fans, applied the pressure at the start of the second half but were unable to create anything to trouble keeper Ian Dunbavin. With 69 minutes gone Gills forward Tomlin dragged an effort wide as the visitors continued to look for a way back into the game.

It was Tomlin who eventually pulled a goal back for the Gills when Dunbavin tried to chip the forward but only succeeded in handing the visiting player the ball. He finished well with 70 minutes gone.

Argentinian replacement keeper Paulo Gazzaniga had little to do in the second half but with 10 minutes left he did turn away a long range shot from Accrington's Danny Coid.

With five minutes left Tomlin scored again to make it 4-3 after being picked out in space by Weston. It was a low finish that Dunbavin was unable to get near.

Gillingham searched for an equaliser but it never came and Gazzaniga had to make spectacular save to deny Micah Evans in the final minute of injury time.

Accrington: Dunbavin, Coid, Winnard, Nsiala, Joyce, Murphy, McIntyre, Evans, Smith, Amond (Craney 84mins), Hughes (Barnett 72mins). Subs: Murdoch, Guthrie, Willis.

Gillingham: Flitney (Gazzaniga 46mins), Martin, Lee, Frampton, Richards, Payne (Weston 46mins), Jackman, Montrose, Tomlin, Kuffour, Kedwell. Subs: King, Rance, Miller.

Attendance: 1,734

What do you think about Gillingham's defeat? Do you think Hessenthaler is under pressure? Have your say below.