Northampton burst Gillingham’s bubble on Saturday.

Two super strikes were enough to win it for the visitors against a Gills team looking to build on a recent upturn in results.

Daniel Powell struck from distance to put the visitors ahead at the break against the run of play.

Lee Martin equalised just after the hour mark but a well-struck free-kick from Matt Grimes put the visitors back infront.

Interim boss Steve Lovell named an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Northampton in a game that chairman Paul Scally – still to choose a permanent manager - labelled ‘incredibly important.’

Lovell was hoping a win, against a team starting the weekend below them in the table, would finally clinch him the position but his men couldn’t sustain their momentum.

Defeat to Northampton followed a win over Peterborough and a draw against title-hopefuls Wigan.

The Gills had bossed the first 45 minutes, although strong winds made life tough for both sides.

Jake Hessenthaler put an early header wide for the Gills while Lee Martin had a shot parried by keeper Matt Ingram.

Sam Hoskins went close for the visitors, with a powerful effort, and Powell had already had a shot saved by Tomas Holy.

Gillingham were bossing possession but couldn’t find a way through.

The visitors made them pay when Powell beat Holy from 30 yards with a low shot that crept just inside the post.

Parker smashed an early second half effort over the bar for Gills while Holy had to make a good save to deny Aaron Pierre. Grimes fired well over moments later.

The Gills were back on level terms after 62 minutes when Martin – a former Northampton loanee - collected a ball over the top before firing home across the keeper.

It wasn’t long before Northampton were back infront, as Grimes left Holy stuck to the spot with an inch-perfect free-kick, which went in off the post.

Gillingham couldn’t find a way back in as Lovell tasted defeat for the first time.

Gillingham: Holy, Clare, Ogilvie, Zakuani, Ehmer, Hessenthaler, Bingham, Parker, Martin, List, Eaves (Garmston 76mins). Subs not used: Nelson, Wagstaff, Byrne, Chapman, Cundle, Wilkinson.

Northampton: Ingram, Poole, Taylor, Pierre, Buchanan, McWilliams, Grimes, Powell, O'Toole (Foley 64mins), Hoskins (Waters 75mins), Long (Richards 90mins). Subs not used: Cornell, Smith, Kasim, Bowditch, Waters.

Attendance: 4,640 (293 away)