Alan Julian joined the Gillingham attack in injury time but couldn't prevent a 1-0 defeat at Wycombe Picture: Barry Goodwin

By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham’s winning run came to an end at Wycombe with a 1-0 defeat.

The Gills were second best to the Chairboys in the first half but it wasn’t until just after the hour that the hosts got the crucial goal.

Dave Winfield scored with a header but the Gills, who rallied late on, almost levelled with a shot from Cody McDonald that struck the bar.

The Gills, with five straight wins before Monday’s match, faced a real test to that record against a team who started the day sitting third in League 2.

But with just two minutes on the clock they went close, when Curtis Weston’s long throw found its way out to Matt Lawrence and he shot narrowly over.

Adebayo Akinfenwa also put a header just over, but the opening half belonged to Wycombe as they attacked the Gills in numbers.

Finding the net eluded the hosts in the opening 45 minutes, however, despite numerous raids on the Gillingham goal.

First-half chances for the hosts fell to Stuart Beavon and Kevin Betsy, but the best of them was wasted by Ben Strevens as he headed wide from two yards.

Just before the break Joe Martin limped off injured for the Gills to be replaced by Andy Barcham, but the early opportunities went to the visitors in the second half, with Akinfenwa sending an acrobatic effort well over, before strike-partner McDonald sent in a low shot that goalkeeper Nikki Bull held.

The winning goal came on 64 minutes when Matt Bloomfield’s corner was headed on to the bar by Scott Rendell and defender Winfield was on hand to pounce.

Bloomfield had a deflected shot go just wide of the post moments after the re-start and Stuart Beavon drilled one over as Wycombe threatened to finish the game off.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler introduced Luke Rooney with 74 minutes gone, and the youngster’s first touch put McDonald through on goal, but his flick over the keeper bounced off the crossbar.

Hessenthaler’s men pushed forward for the equaliser late on, but failed to find the net.

Wycombe: Bull, Westwood (McCoy 56mins), Sandell, Winfield, Johnson, Strevens, Lewis, Bloomfield, Betsy, Beavon, Rendell. Subs not used: Arnold, Bennett, Ainsworth, Montrose, Donnelly, McClure.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Lawrence, Gowling, Weston (Rooney 74mins), Maher (Bentley 60mins), Spiller, Martin (Barcham 44mins), McDonald, Akinfenwa. Subs not used: Cronin, King, Jackman, S Payne.

Attendance: 4,617