Gillingham failed to make it 11 matches unbeaten at KRBS Priestfield after a 2-1 defeat to bottom of the table Port Vale. An 11th goal of the season for striker Chris Dickson put The Gills into the lead but a quick first-half double from Vale's Calum Willock and an own goal from Simon King ensured the home side finished on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. The Gills took the lead on 32 when the hardworking Adam Miller picked the ball up from a Stuart Thurgood tackle, and had the vision to aim a defence splitting through ball into the path of Chris Dickson. The young striker used his strength to hold off his defender and fire past Joe Anyon in the Vale goal. The lead, however, did not last long as the visitors broke strongly two minutes later with a well executed move, finished by Willock who was free to nod past Simon Royce. Matters were made worse just before the whistle when David McGoldrick surged through The Gills defence. His shot was tame but it hit King to roll agonisingly over the goal line.

 
Indeed it was King who had the first chance of the half when he was picked out all alone in the centre of the box but could not aim his free header goalward. The Gills looked strong in the swirling wind and pouring rain, passing it well along the deck and patiently waiting for their chance to attack the Port Vale goal. Their patience was rewarded by the visitors' frustration when Dickson was fouled on the edge of area. Miller stepped up for the resulting free-kick, but his low drive skimmed past the left-hand post.

Port Vale, however, finished the half stronger and began to carve chances of their own. Midfielder Paul Harlsey will be wondering how he didn't make more of his shot when he found himself free 16-yards out, but he somehow managed to volley horribly wide. Soon after Simon Royce proved why he is this month's Kent Messenger Player-of- the-month by pulling off a terrific save through a host of bodies when Vale's midfielder Marc Laird hit a sweet drive from the edge of the box.

Vale started the second-half on top and created two chances that really should have furthered their lead. The first was from willing runner Luke Rodgers when he powered forward to create some space for himself and, from 25-yards out, he struck a powerful drive which Royce had to tip to safety. The second fell to Harsley but his first time shot from inside the box sailed over the bar.

The Gills created their first chance of the second-half in the 60th minute when Sean Clohessy overlapped Oli to put in a teasing cross but skipper Andrew Crofts could not connect with it. Mark Bentley could have, and probably should have, levelled the scores when he met a outswinging corner from substitute Barry Cogan, but he could not get enough on it to trouble the keeper on a frustrating afternoon.

Miller was next to see an effort miss the target when his diving header, from another excellent Clohessy cross, had the Rainham End fans holding their heads in their hands as it flew past the far corner. However, the chances kept coming with Dickson next in line to add to the frustration. Cogan's inch perfect cross was acrobatically met by the goalscorer, but he could not keep it down and crucially could not keep it on target.

With only five minutes to go, Gillingham came even closer when they were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Thurgood took it quickly, putting it into the path of Dickson whose fizzing drive ran just wide.

As the light began to fade so did Gillingham's hopes of maintaining their unbeaten record and indeed Mr Singh blew his whistle to ensure that Port Vale would be going home the happier of the two sides and three points richer.

Corners:

 
Gillingham: 6

Port Vale: 6

Cautions:

Port Vale: Laird 64 minutes, Harsley 80 minutes 

Gillingham: None

Substitutions:

Gillingham:

23 Barry Cogan for 31 Adam Bygrave

10 Delroy Facey on for 19 Sean Clohessy

Port Vale:

14 Danny Whitaker on for 28 Mark Salmon

18 Colin Miles on for 10 Luke Rodgers