Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges keeper Tommy Lee Picture: Barry Goodwin

Gillingham came off second best to League 2 table-toppers Chesterfield at Priestfield on Tuesday night.

The Gills were trailing to a Deane Smalley header at half-time and conceded a second to the same player early in the second half.

Those goals were enough to earn the visitors maximum points and leave the Gills still hovering on the edge of the play-off places.

Smalley’s 14th-minute goal came from Javan Vidal’s clever work and cross in the box.

Gillingham weren’t short of goalscoring opportunities themselves in the first half as they tried desperately to restore parity.

Cody McDonald almost levelled immediately but visiting keeper Tommy Lee made a terrific low save to keep out the powerful effort.

McDonald was partnered by Adebayo Akinfenwa once more in attack and the pair conjured up plenty more chances, but half-time came with Chesterfield holding on to their slender lead.

Curtis Weston and Danny Jackman saw first-half efforts fly wide of the mark and McDonald had at least another three more opportunities that were all spurned in the first 45 minutes.

Just before the interval the Gills had a big penalty appeal when Danny Jackman went down just inside the area, but referee Darren Drysdale waved play on.

Just four minutes into the second half Chesterfield scored again and it was a second for Smalley.

A ball from the back found him in plenty of space and he rounded keeper Alan Julian before rolling the ball into the net - the referee ignoring Gillingham’s claims for offside.

Chances were few and far between for the Gills at the start of the half, as they looked for a way back into the game.

Their first attempt at goal in the second half came on 74 minutes as substitute Luke Rooney shot through a crowd of bodies, but keeper Lee saved.

Craig Davies flashed an effort past the post for Chesterfield and Rooney smashed in a low shot towards the end, shortly before Kevin Maher had a go himself, but Lee dealt with both efforts comfortably.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Gowling, Lawrence, Nutter, Weston (Rooney 64mins), Maher, Jackman (J Payne 72mins), Spiller (S Payne 80mins), McDonald, Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Cronin, Bentley, Richards, Martin.

Chesterfield: Lee, Vidal, Ford, Mattis, Robertson, Talbot, Whitaker, Allot, Morris, Davies (Bowery 90mins), Smalley (Lester 86mins). Subs not used: Redmond, Griffiths, Breckin, Lowry, Niven.

Attendance: 4,770