Newcomer Charlie Lee tries to battle his way through three Crewe players Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Alex Hoad

Ten-man Gillingham endured a torrid afternoon against Crewe at Priestfield, slipping to their third straight home defeat and narrowly avoiding falling into the League 2 relegation zone.

Crewe’s Luke Murphy had already hit the bar when Gills were reduced to 10 in the 26th minute after 17-year-old debutant Callum Davies was dismissed after bringing down pacy Clayton Donaldson on the edge of the box.

Lee Bell hit the bar with the resultant free-kick, but Gills fell behind on 35 minutes when Matt Tootle’s cross from the right was missed by Charlie Lee and the ball struck Byron Moore eight yards out and trickled agonisingly into the corner of Julian’s goal.

Cody McDonald saw a header ruled out from a Chris Palmer free-kick soon after, after an expert offside trap was played by the visitors, while Crewe keeper Rhys Taylor saved well from Chris Whelpdale and Kevin Maher during a spell of Gills pressure late in the half.

However, in the second minute of stoppage time Moore outstripped Barry Fuller down the left flank and fired in a low cross which Donaldson trapped eight yards out before spinning and slotting past Alan Julian.

Just 35 seconds after the break Whelpdale broke forward down the right and sent in a terrific shot from 25 yards which was tipped round the post by Taylor.

But from the resultant deep corner from Palmer 30 seconds later the Posh loan man looped a header back across goal and into the roof of the net for his first Gills goal.

Six minutes later Whelpdale’s long throw was flicked on by Akinfenwa and Taylor had to scramble to tip it over the bar for another corner.

Palmer needed to clear off the line after some pinball in the area after a 66th-minute corner.

Whelpdale burst into the box on 70 minutes but saw his rocket blocked by a knee and Palmer lashed the rebound wide from the edge of the box.

Moments later Julian held a tame drive from Ashley Westwood.

On 77 minutes Lee was caught out by a ball over the top from Murphy allowing Shaun Miller to bear down on goal from 30-yards out before drilling past Julian from 16 yards.

Hessenthaler responded by swapping Kevin Maher and Cody McDonald for Danny Jackman and Bruce Inkango as the 188 Crewe fans sung that he’d be sacked in the morning.

Eight minutes from time Whelpdale’s 25-yarder flashed wide of Taylor’s left hand post while Akinfenwa was replaced by Stefan Payne but Gills did not threaten again.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Davies, Sinclair, Kennedy, Whelpdale, Lee, Maher (Jackman 77mins), Palmer, McDonald (Inkango 77mins), Akinfenwa (Payne 82mins). Subs not used: Cronin, Miller.

Crewe: Taylor, Tootle, Westwood, Artell, Ada, Donaldson, Murphy, Miller (Grant 86mins), Bell, Moore, Dugdale. Subs not used: Phillips, Blanchett, Shelley, Davis, Powell, Short.

Attendance: 5, 292.