Gavin Tomlin tries to find a way through the Port Vale defence Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

A spirited Gillingham display ended without reward as they lost in the last minute against Port Vale.

The Gills went ahead in first-half injury-time, but conceded twice in the last nine minutes. It was the club’s fifth straight League 2 defeat.

A headed effort from Chris Whelpdale had put Gillingham ahead, but Vale levelled with eight minutes left when Sean Rigg headed in.

The Vale winner came in the last minute as Marc Richards scored from the penalty spot.

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler had threatened to make changes to the side and that’s what he did, with teenagers Connor Essam and Jack Evans coming in for their first starts for the club.

The whole back four was changed for the match as Matt Lawrence, Garry Richards and Joe Martin were all dropped. Andy Frampton, the captain, missed out through injury.

Hessenthaler also handed a first Gills start of the season to Simon King, with Danny Jackman dropping into the left-back position.

Chris Whelpdale was also recalled for the match as the Gills looked to end a run of four straight defeats.

After a nervy opening few minutes the Gills began to settle into the game and keeper Stuart Tomlinson had to hold onto long range shots from Danny Jackman and Chris Whelpdale.

Jackman also had a chance from close range, after latching onto Curtis Weston’s flick, but a Vale defender made a timely intervention as he went to pull the trigger.

Young Gills keeper Paulo Gazzaniga got away with a poor clearance, that saw Louis Dodds shoot wide, after the ball had been kicked straight to Sam Morsy.

Gillingham took a lead into the break when Gavin Tomlin swapped passes with Jack Evans before crossing for Chris Whelpdale to head home.

The youngsters in the Gills defence had performed well and when Vale broke menacingly, early in the second half, Essam made a great tackle to rob Sean Rigg of the ball.

Vale introduced a trio of substitutes with an hour gone and they began to up the pressure, with Gazzaniga punching away Paul Marshall’s free-kick, after lively sub Chris Shuker was felled on the edge of the box by Jackman.

The hosts were testing Gazzaniga from all angles, as they upped the pressure, and the Gills keeper had to beat away a powerful effort from Loft as he tried his luck from distance.

Essam was there to block successive shots from Dodds and then Rigg, as he bravely threw his body in the way of the ball.

Danny Kedwell, who at the other end had been kept quiet for much of the match, had one shot comfortably saved by the Vale keeper. Kedwell broke again, as the Gills went on the counter attack, but again Tomlinson saved.

Gillingham were defending bravely but Vale finally broke through with 81 minutes gone when Loft’s cross was headed home by Rigg.

The Gills almost hit back immediately, when Tomlin burst clear and had a shot save by Tomlinson, but it was the hosts who were to have the last laugh.

Whelpdale pushed Richards in the back as a cross came in and from the penalty spot the same player stepped up and scored.

An injury-time free-kick from Jackman sailed over the bar as the Gills were beaten once more.

Gillingham: Gazzaniga, King, Essam, Evans, Jackman, Payne, Weston, Whelpdale, Kedwell, Kuffour (Martin 76mins), Tomlin. Subs: Richards, Montrose, Miller, Oliver Lee.

Port Vale: Tomlinson, Taylor, Griffith, McCombe, Loft, Dodds, Richards, Rigg, Morsy (Marshall 60mins), Williamson (Shuker 60mins), McDonald (Owen 60mins). Subs: Martin, James.

Attendance: 4,027.

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