Gillingham were unable to build on their recent promising signs as they were comfortably beaten at home by Mansfield Town.

The Gills were booed off at Priestfield, enduring a torrid opening half which saw Lucas Akins score one and have a penalty saved before George Lapslie put the visitors 2-0 infront. Mansfield were happy to see out the second half with the job done in the first 45 minutes.

• Harris: “Physically we got beaten up"

Manager Neil Harris handed Haji Mnoga a place back in the starting eleven after his return from suspension, but it was another tough afternoon for the Portsmouth loanee. He had been sent off nine minutes into his debut and was replaced at the break on Saturday.

Striker Lewis Walker was also involved from the off after Scott Kashket was ruled out with injury.

The Gills were hoping to build on positive performances in their previous two, with draws against Swindon Town and Grimsby Town, but the first 45 minutes were hugely disappointing.

Gillingham were on the back foot early on and with 17 minutes played Akins was allowed too much room inside the box as he volleyed home Kellan Gordon’s right-sided cross.

Set-piece opportunities for the Gills were wasted and Akins had the chance to score a second from the penalty spot after keeper Morris and Mnoga had combined to bring Mansfield’s Lapslie down in the box. Morris redeemed himself as he went the right way to deny the striker.

Mansfield continued to have chances, however. A well-worked corner led to a shot from Ollie Clarke that wasn’t far off and moments later the visitors had their second.

A ball through the middle picked out the run of Lapslie, he skipped past keeper Morris and squeezed the ball in from a tight angle as Ehmer tried desperately to get back.

The Stags had chances to extend the lead, Stephen McLaughlin going close and Morris doing just enough to put Lapslie off as he looked to convert a cross at the near post.

Mnoga was replaced at the break by Ryan Law, as the hosts reverted to 4-4-2, and the Gills did offer some threat at the start of the second half. With an hour gone more changes came as Harris looked to make that pressure count. Jordan Green and teen striker Joe Gbode - recalled from his loan at Hastings - were both introduced.

With a 2-0 lead, Mansfield had a cushion with which to sit back on in the second half, soaking up the Gills’ attacking play and keeping them at arm’s length.

Ben Reeves had a shot from distance that Mansfield keeper Christy Pym comfortably dealt with. It was his last action as Alex MacDonald replaced him with 20 minutes left.

Gillingham offered little goal threat in the second half as Mansfield deservedly left with all three points.

Gillingham: Morris, Adelakun (Green 61mins), McKenzie, Mnoga (Law 46mins), Ehmer, Baggott, Williams, O’Keefe, Reeves (MacDonald 72mins), Mandron, Walker (Gbode 61mins). Subs not used: Turner, Alexander, Wright.

Mansfield: Pym, Gordon (Bowery 80mins), Hewitt, Hawkins, HArbottle, McLaughlin, Clarke, Hartigan, Maris, Lapslie, Akins. Subs not used: Flinders, O’Toole, Perch, Wallace, Quinn, Gale.

Referee: Tom Reeves

Attendance: 4,195 (404 away)