Stephen Clemence’s return to Gillingham ended in defeat as his Barrow side were replaced at the top of League 2.

Clemence received a warm reception ahead of the game at Priestfield but it was his old team Gillingham celebrating at the final whistle. Mark Bonner’s men won the match 2-0, with a goal in each half.

Report: Gillingham 2 Barrow 0

Prior to the game, Walsall had leapfrogged both Gillingham and Barrow to take the lead in the division following their early kick-off in League 2, but the Gills ended the day top of the pile.

Clemence put their defeat down to fine margins.

“It’s a difficult place to come,” he said, speaking after the game.

“There wasn't a lot in the game, we conceded one goal on the counter-attack that we could have done better with and we conceded a second from a corner.

“We had a great chance at 1-0 down where Glenn Morris (the Gills goalkeeper) made an outstanding save and if that goes in the game could be different. It’s fine margins at this level.”

Morris denied Dean Campbell early in the second half, as Barrow started on the front foot after the break, but Robbie McKenzie converted from a corner to double the home side’s advantage just after the hour mark.

Clemence said: “First half we could have played better with the ball but defensively we were fine, they didn’t really cut us open.

“I asked for more with the ball second half and we got that.

“Gillingham are unbeaten at home since Christmas, we knew it would be difficult, and we lost Kian Spence in the morning, he didn’t feel well, he is a big part of how we play.

“But we were right in the game, it could have been different. It’s fine lines.

“They took their moments, we didn’t defend well enough and you can always pick holes in goals, but when we got our moments we didn’t find the net but it doesn’t define our season.”

Both teams are in action midweek as Barrow head to Doncaster and the new leaders Gillingham host Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.