Gillingham drop into League Two for the second time in three years after an ugly away defeat at Adams Park.

Manager Mark Stimson opted for the same attacking formation that defeated Southampton 2-1 at Priestfield last weekend with Barcham and Oli pushing down the flanks in support of strike pair Jackson and Howe.

The visitors got off to a nervy start and were opened up in the sixth minute when Kevin McLeod collected a deep clearance and cut into the area before testing Julian with a low effort to the keeper's left.

Gillingham enjoyed their share of possession but the hosts were next to create a sight of goal, Matt Phillips ghosting in on the left before forcing a save from Julian, low to his left hand post.

Simeon Jackson produced the Gills first and only effort of the half, firing goalwards from Miller's partially cleared 18th minute free-kick. The shot deflected behind for a corner but the visitors could not capitalise on the set-piece.

Three minutes later Wycombe were denied again, Mcleod's corner cleared only as far as Phillips who struck a low shot towards goal, Julian hooked it clear with an outstretched leg and scrambled back to his feet to scoop up the return ball.

McLeod teed-up Montrose to shoot from the centre of goal, ten minutes before the break, once again Julian got down well to block before Gillingham scrambled the ball to safety.

A minute before the interval Josh Gowling found his way into the book for a totally needless trip on Pitman. Seconds later Wycombe took the lead as the aforementioned Pitman raced through the centre of the Gills half before passing out wide to Phillips who cut in from the right and drove a sublime finish into Julian's far right corner.

HT 0-1

Gillingham looked a little more lively after the interval and went close in the 50th minute through Rene Howe. The powerful forward bustled onto Payne's long pass and chipped narrowly wide of Heaton's near post.

Six minutes later Mousinho collected a booking for a foul on Weston but the visitors wasted the resulting free-kick. Soon after Nutter laid a goal on a plate for Jackson with a delicate cross from the left but the Gills leading scorer contrived to slice his finish into the stand from three yards out.

Gillingham were on top now and should have scored within moments as Howe set-up Oli inside the box but the striker's tame effort was easily gathered by Chairboys keeper Tom Heaton. The Gills were made to pay for their profligacy in the 64th minute as a corner to the far post was headed in by an unmarked Alan Bennett, leaving the Gills with a mountain to climb.

Rene earned a yellow card soon after for pulling back an advancing Wycombe forward, The Chairboys headed in again from the free-kick but the goal was chalked off for offside. Things got worse still in the 71st minute as Kevin Betsy's shot from just inside the box deflected off Bentley for 3-0, leading Gills supporters to head for the exits.

Luke Rooney came on for Oli and at least forced Heaton to make a save with a 77th minute snap shot from the edge of the area. Five minutes later news came from of a goal at Exeter moving Gillingham into the relegations places.

Adam Miller collected a booking for a late challenge on Kadeem Harris while Julian needed a superb save to deny Pitman a Wycombe fourth five minutes from time. Gillingham laboured on but there was nothing they could do to salvage their League One status.

Attendance: 7110

Gillingham: Alan Julian, Jack Payne, Josh Gowling, Mark Bentley, John Nutter, Dennis Oli (Luke Rooney 76), Adam Miller, Curtis Weston, Andy Barcham, Simeon Jackson, Rene Howe (Chris Dickson 78).

Subs: Simon Royce, Kevin Maher, Danny Jackman, Chris Palmer, Tom Wynter.

Wycombe Wanderers: Tom Heaton, Lewis Hunt, Craig Woodman, Alan Bennett, Jon-Paul Pittman, Lewis Montrose (Gareth Ainsworth 76), Matt Phillips, John Mousinho, Kevin McLeod (Kadeem Harris 62), Kevin Betsy, Julian Kelly.

Subs: Luke Oliver, Dean Keates, Matt Harrold, Chris Westwood.