Gillingham’s pointless run was extended to five games after a third straight home loss on Tuesday night.

Goals from former Gills youth player Matt Baker and giant striker Kyle Hudlin put Newport two goals up at the break. Gillingham had plenty of chances in the second half but couldn’t convert.

Gillingham went into the game with four straight defeats behind them, desperate to end that poor form. Newport’s wasn’t much better, with three losses in a row ahead of their trip to Priestfield.

It was Newport who managed to stop the rot, extending the pain for the Gills in the process. Defeat dropped Gillingham to 11th in the table after a sixth loss from 13 games.

Manager Mark Bonner made two changes upfront from the weekend team at Bradford. Marcus Wyllie replaced Ol Hawkins to lead the attack while Joe Gbode dropped out for Jack Nolan.

Just like in their weekend loss at Bradford, the Gills started brightly enough, but were undone by a set-piece.

Jayden Clarke had Gillingham’s best early chance, put in on goal by George Lapslie, but as he tried to pick out the bottom corner, goalkeeper Nick Townsend got a hand to the shot to send it wide.

An opening goal for the visitors came on 16 minutes. Max Clark conceded a free-kick out wide against tricky winger Bobby Kamwa and from that set-piece the visitors took the lead. Anthony Glennon picked out Baker and he volleyed a fine effort into the roof of the net.

Former Welsh youth international Baker never played for the Gills’ first team, released by the club and joining Stoke City in 2021, and from there eventually signing for Newport after a couple of loan spells.

The Gills had to make a change shortly after letting in the first goal. Already missing seven senior players with injury, Lapslie was added to the casualty list after struggling from the early moments of the game.

Newport defender Baker also had a hand in their second goal, running with ease through the Gills midfield and releasing Kamwa down the right flank. A low first-time cross was met by Hudlin, controlling with his first touch and finishing well with his second, as he turned and fired past Jake Turner.

Gillingham were getting plenty of crosses into the box but they were well dealt with by a Newport side with plenty of height. Kyle Jameson cleared a number of balls in and Hudlin - all six foot nine inches of him - helped out too.

Midfielder Tim Dieng had a couple of shots blocked from open play and took on the responsibility with a free-kick from the edge of the box. His shot couldn’t beat the wall.

Gillingham were fired up for the second half.

Two early chances fell for Nolan. He couldn’t quite get to Remeao Hutton's cross from the right and Clark's ball in from the opposite flank got to him too quick.

Nolan’s corner moments later also went through a crowd of bodies and Jameson stretched out a boot to keep out Clarke’s shot, which seemed destined for the bottom corner.

Ethan Coleman also blasted a volley narrowly wide during a good first 10 minutes from the Gills, showing plenty of urgency. The Newport goalie was doing his best to slow things down.

Wyllie’s chance for a first league goal came when Clarke played him in with just the keeper to beat but Townsend made himself big to save.

Opportunities kept coming for the Gills as Newport sat deep. Dieng went wide and the flurry of chances prompted the visitors to make changes.

Bonner wasn’t far behind, introducing extra attackers with Oli Hawkins and Joe Gbode off the bench.

Hawkins had a shot held by the keeper and Jonny Williams was denied by Ciaran Brennan’s block.

It was all or nothing with 15 minutes left as Conor Masterson was replaced by another striker in Jacob Wakeling.

Newport’s attacking threat had been non-existent in the second half but despite over 20 attempts at goal the Gills couldn’t finish.

Clarke glanced a header wide in stoppage-time and Williams shot wide of the mark twice as Newport claimed maximum points and a clean sheet.

League 2 table