Gillingham started the new year with a familiar result after a sluggish start cost them against Bromley in League 2 on Thursday night.

The Gills were two goals down inside half an hour after Louis Dennis and former Priestfield junior Jude Arthurs netted for the visitors. Kamarl Grant added a third for the Londoners with 14 minutes left and Elliott Nevitt capped a bad night for Gills by missing a penalty late on.

Gillingham were attempting to get their promotion challenge back on track after defeats over Christmas at Wimbledon and Colchester but the performance against Bromley wasn’t anywhere near good enough. They were booed off again by those home fans who stayed on for the final whistle.

A better second half performance couldn’t change the outcome as the Gills slipped to a third straight defeat.

Gills boss Mark Bonner made six changes to the team which started Monday’s game at Wimbledon but there was nothing on show in the early stages to suggest they would reverse their recent losing trend.

Jonny Williams came in to start after being an unused substitute in the previous four games while Josh Andrews was recalled to play upfront.

Andrews picked up a cut to the head after just 30 seconds and twice needed to leave the field to be bandaged up. It was a disruption the Gills didn’t need as Tim Dieng had to fill in as an emergency striker.

Dieng managed an early shot that was blocked but Ethan Coleman’s follow-up was way off target, nearer to the corner flag than the goal. It was perhaps the sign of things to come.

With seven minutes played Bromley took the lead. Michael Cheek ran down the flank, running onto a header off Max Clark, and when he was challenged by Shad Ogie, the ball fell perfectly for Arthurs to have a shot. Keeper Glenn Morris could only parry and Dennis was on hand for a simple finish.

Bromley continued to be a threat, an inviting ball across the backline just evading Idris Odutayo at the back post.

A second goal arrived for Bromley after 26 minutes - provoking a furious response from the Gillingham fans behind the goal. Chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” were aimed at the home players. Bromley’s second had come from Grant’s long throw which the Gills couldn’t deal with and Arthurs hooked it home from close range.

Cheek headed another chance over and Grant created an opportunity from another throw, this time quickly taken. The ball was played back to Odutayo who got a shot away but couldn’t beat Morris.

Gillingham hadn’t done enough to threaten the Bromley goal. Nolan had a corner whipped in that Bromley keeper Grant Smith turned over the bar and the stopper easily held a long-range effort from Clark in stoppage time.

The Gills were booed off at the break and boss Bonner made a trio of substitutions to try and salvage something from the game.

Jayden Clarke, Armani Little and Remeao Hutton were all introduced for the second half as Bonner shuffled things around. Robbie McKenzie dropped into central defence and Ogie took over from substituted Clark at left-back.

Andrews headed a chance wide early in the second half for Gillingham and just 10 minutes after the restart there was another change as Coleman was replaced by striker Nevitt.

Clarke had a penalty appeal turned down and with an hour gone Bromley keeper Smith pulled off a superb save on his line to deny Andrews one-handed after he looked to convert Ogie’s cross.

It was much better from the Gills as they attacked a Bromley side who could sit back with the luxury of a two-goal advantage.

Jonny Williams and Hutton both put shots over the bar as time ticked away but Bromley added a third on 76 minutes following a quickly taken free-kick. Corey Whitely crossed the ball in and as players queued up to pounce, Grant was there to slot the ball home.

While some home fans left early, others chose to chant against the manager. This wasn’t the start of 2025 anyone at ME7 had hoped for.

Morris saved well at his near post to deny former Gills man Ben Thompson from adding a fourth.

Gillingham’s miserable night was summed up as Nevitt skied a penalty well over the bar with three minutes left.

League 2 table