Leeds 2 Gillingham 1

Gillingham produced a brave display at Leeds on Saturday but two second half goals condemned Mark Stimson's side to the bottom tier of English league football for the first time in 12 years.

The Gills started well in front of a hostile crowd and took a deserved lead on 19 minutes when Simeon Jackson capitalised on a dreadful back pass by Paul Huntington, rounded keeper Casper Ankergren and kept his composure to slot home.

But Leeds were much improved after the break and the leveller came 21 minutes from time when Bradley Johnson volleyed home substitute Sebastien Carole's cross.

Other results went against them but in the end that didn't matter as Gillingham failed to find the second they so desperately needed.

The hammer blow came two minutes from time when Tresor Kandol broke the offside trap and finished in style beyond Derek Stillie.

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Earlier, Leeds' Jonathan Douglas was lucky to escape with only a yellow card in the 33rd minute after appearing to aim a headbutt at Gary Mulligan, who was also booked.

Peter Sweeney had a decent chance for the home side in the opening minutes of the second period, while Jackson shot over when a cross might have been a better option.

Skipper Andrew Crofts came closest to a second for Gillingham, forcing a save out of Ankergren on 72 mintues before heading Nicky Southall's centre narrowly wide with time running out.

And Gillingham's day was summed up when Southall struck the post from almost on the goal-line in stoppage-time.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson said: "It was a performance like we have put in during the last five or six weeks. It was a very good display by the lads against a very good side but unfortunately we couldn’t keep the lead and we got pipped at the end.

"The word I would use to some up my time at the club so far is frustrating because we’ve been so close, but you know in football, it’s about a season and 46 games and you have to perform over those games.

"We’ve put in some good performances over the last 10 games but haven’t come out with as many points as we deserved.

"What myself and Scott (Barrett) have tried to put our finger on is why can we get a lead and not go on and score a second and give ourselves a cushion, that’s maybe down to needing another striker with a physical presence and that’s an area we’ll try and improve on in the summer."

Gillingham: Stillie, Southall, Cullip (Griffiths 76) , King, Nutter, Bentley, Maher, Crofts, Lewis (Oli 72), Mulligan (Miller 55), Jackson.

Subs not used: Kiely, Ba.

Attendance: 38,256.