Gillingham have failed to build upon their victory against AFC Bournemouth at the weekend by falling to a 2-1 defeat to Port Vale at Vale Park this afternoon. Goals in either half, by Marc Richards in the the first and Danny Whitaker in the second, secured the victory in difficult snowy conditions. Substitute Leroy Griffiths, sporting his brilliant orange boots, clawed one back for the Gills but it proved mere consolation as Vale held out for the full 90 minutes.

With the experience of Andrew Crofts - through illness- and Danny Cullip - through injury- missing, manager Mark Stimson draughted in young midfielders Charlie Howard and Craig Stone, employing a midfield diamond led by Adam Miller. The system was a far cry from the bullish set-up from the previous game, with the three commanding centre-halves flanked by two wing-backs then the three in the middle with Miller playing off the front two. And, indeed, the Gills struggled to cope with it in the early exchanges and Vale capitalised.

Within the first five minutes, the home side managed to create two speculative efforts before forcing keeper Derek Stillie into a smart save when Luke Rodgers shot from six yards out. The former Aberdeen shot stopper somehow managed to claw it out from underneath the crossbar and cemented his ability to be a suitable replacement for number one choice Simon Royce.

However, it proved to be a warning of what was to come as Lee Sinnott's side took the lead just short of the 20 minute mark. A corner was whipped, headed back across goal to a waiting Marc Richards, who showed good technique to volley the ball past Stillie and into the net.

Gillingham unified and began to work their way back into the game. On 19, striker Simeon Jackson was played into the area by Adam Miller and found himself one-on-one with keeper Joe Anyon. The former Rushden & Diamonds forward chose power over precision and his left foot shot was blocked by the keeper and out for a corner.

The Gills continued to push and Miller forged a chance out of nothing when his snap shot fizzed past the far post on 22 minutes.

Just past the half-hour mark and Mark Stimson's side had a glorious chance to bring the scores level when Jackson was brought down in the area under a Robin Hulbert challenge. The referee had no hesitation and pointed straight to the spot. Jackson stood up to take it but his low shot was comfortably saved by Anyon, who got down well at the foot of the right post. There was a certain degree of bitter irony about the miss as it was a saved penalty that gave Gillingham a welcome injection of hope at the weekend but, just two days later, the same outcome was a painful blow.

Two minutes before the half-time whistle, Gillingham should have drawn level when Mark Bentley managed to miss from six yards out. Good play from debutant Charlie Howard found Jackson, whose shot was spilled by Anyon and into the path of Bentley. The midfielder could not control his shot and he put it over the bar.

Into the second half and Gillingham came out revitalised and in ardent search of the equaliser. On 48, Jackson had the first chance when he connected with a John Nutter cross but his flick ran just wide.

Four minutes later and the Gills found themselves two goals down. A misplaced pass from defender Simon King was picked up by Danny Whitaker and he fired brilliantly passed Stillie from 20 yards.

Mark Stimson responded and brought Leroy Griffiths on for midfielder Craig Stone.

On 65, Adam Miller got forward well and forced a decent from Anyon. Two minutes later and Gillingham fans were wondering how they had not brought one back when a combination of goalkeeper and defender somehow managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal line. From the resulting corner, Dennis Oli climbed well to direct a bullet header at goal but it was also cleared off of the line. Griffiths latched onto it and fired a 20 yard drive that hit Mark Bentley and ran out of play.

On 68, Simeon Jackson broke free and fired a thunderbolt effort that hit the side netting. Port Vale counter attacked and almost got a third, but the Vale forward put it wide.

Gillingham soaked up the pressure and managed to get a consolation goal in the 78th minute when the ball fell to Griffiths from a scramble in the box. The substitute was quickest to react and fired home a left foot shot from six yards out. 

The final minutes drained away and the Gills could not find an equaliser. Some borderline challenges from Lee Sinnott's men were interceded by scrappy football and the final whistle was duly blown to subject the away side to defeat. The Gills are next in action this weekend when Cumbrian side Carlise United are visitors to KRBS Priestfield. To book your tickets please call our GFC Ticket Office on 01634 300 000.

TEAM NEWS

There are two notable changes to the side that beat AFC Bournemouth at the weekend. Midfielders Charlie Howard and Craig Stone are given the nod, whilst keeper Derek Stillie remains between the sticks.

Port Vale: Joe Anyon, George Pilkington, Krystian Pearce, Paul Harsley, Adam Eckersley, Dave Howland, Danny Whitaker, Robin Hulber, Marc Richards, Kyle Perry, Luke Rodgers

Subs: Mark McGregor, Jason Talbot, Dave Mulligan, Danny Glover, Joe Cardle

Gillingham: 22.Derek Stillie, 37. Garry Richards, 35. John Nutter, 19. Sean Clohessy, 5. Simon King (c), 28.Dennis Oli, 18. Craig Stone, 29. Charlie Howard, 8. Mark Bentley, 36. Adam Miller, 20. Simeon Jackso

Subs: 38. Barry Fuller, 30. Leroy Griffiths, 31. Adam Bygrave, 21. Luis Cumbers, 13. Chris Kiely