Grimsby 3 Gillingham 0

Gillingham�s long unbeaten run came to an end at Blundell Park on Saturday.

The Gills suffered their first defeat in nine League 2 outings after losing to relegation threatened Grimsby.

A goal either side of the interval and one in injury time was enough for Grimsby to take the points as Gillingham failed to take their chances when they came.

The visitors had the most of the first half opportunities but found themselves trailing at the break.

Jean-Louis Akpra Akpro�s 33rd minute strike gave Town a 1-0 lead, after following up a shot from Nick Hegarty, which had struck the post.

Until that moment it was all Gillingham. Home keeper Wayne Henderson had to make saves low down from Simeon Jackson and twice from Nicky Southall.

Andy Barcham also volleyed an effort over the bar as Grimsby hung on.

Despite being second best the hosts could have doubled the lead in first half injury time, but Simon Royce was there to tip Peter Sweeney�s free kick over.

Grimsby threatened to double the lead early in the second half, with a powerful shot from the Sweeney that hit the outside of the post, and a low strike from Barry Conlan that was saved by Royce.

Town had appeals for a penalty turned down moments later, when Conlan fell under the challenge of Barry Fuller and at the other end Mark McCammon�s goalbound shot bounced wide after hitting strike partner Jackson.

Grimsby�s good start to the second half was rewarded with a second goal on 57 minutes when Hegarty received the ball in the area and placed the ball past Royce.

The hosts continued to pose a threat and Royce needed to be at his best to parry Akpra Akpro�s shot out for a corner kick.

A glancing header from McCammon was well saved from Henderson and the Town keeper did well again to tip Dennis Oli�s shot wide. The Gills were desperate to get back in the game but continued to be thwarted and Joe Widdowson cleared a McCammon header off the line.

Gillingham�s miserable day was sealed when Conlan swept the ball home from close range.

Manager Mark Stimson said: �I expected to get something from the game because of the run of form we�re in but the players are only humans.

�There was no way the run was going to last until the end of the season. There were a few people who might have got excited and carried away with it but second top versus second bottom can always be a bit of a banana skin.

�The team has been absolutely phenomenal for the last eight games and you have to give credit to them. They weren�t anywhere near what they�ve been like in the last eight games but that�s football.

�They don�t go out there to not put up a real good performance and it just wasn�t to be and we�ll get over it.

�There are seven games to go and if we can get the place rocking like Grimsby did then I�m sure we will have a really enjoyable last seven games.�

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Bentley, Southall, Miller, Weston (Oli 63mins), Barcham, McCammon, Jackson. Subs not used: Julian, Lewis, Richards, Mulligan.

Grimsby: Henderson, Stockdale, Bennett, Sweeney, Lewellyn, Hunt, Hegarty, Widdowson, Conlan, Atkinson, Akpro (Proudlock 85mins). Subs not used: Lund, Heywood, Bore, Forbes.

Attendance:6,406