Charlie Lee releases the ball before Byron Moore can get to him Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

A stoppage-time goal denied Gillingham a point from another frantic game at Priestfield.

The defeat ended a four-game winning run for the Gills in League 2 after they played the final 10 minutes with 10 men following Danny Spiller's red card.

They fell behind to a 27th minute wonder-strike from Nick Powell, but levelled straight after the restart through Jack Payne.

Ajay Leitch-Smith and Powell struck twice in two minutes to put Crewe into a commanding lead, but Chris Whelpdale pulled it back to 3-2 and teenage striker Ashley Miller made it all-square.

In stoppage time, substitute Max Clayton pounced to win it for Crewe.

The half ended with the Gills going into the changing rooms a goal down, just as they were in the week against Barnet. Another fight-back was required.

Gillingham had actually started the game well and the closest chance fell to central defender Simon King. His shot from Charlie Lee’s corner needed clearing off the line.

Crewe took the lead from their first shot on goal when, with 27 minutes gone, Powell launched a shot into the top corner from 30 yards.

Gills’ hopes weren’t helped by an early booking by Charlie Lee, which left him on a knife-edge, with referee Keith Stroud delivering him a final warning with half an hour gone after another mis-timed tackle.

His 15th caution of the season means he will now miss the next three games through suspension.

The goal led to a complete turnaround in the match as the Gills began to get picked apart by the visitors. All of a sudden Crewe were looking a real threat in attack and Paulo Gazzaniga had to make a save from Byron Moore and watch as another couple of crosses went fizzing dangerously through his six-yard box.

Powell sent another long-range effort over the bar as Crewe finished the half with a goal advantage and in the ascendancy.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler changed things at the break with Danny Kedwell appearing in the second half to add numbers to the attack.

Just like in their game against Barnet, where they had also trailed 1-0 at the break, the Gills roared back at the start of the second half. With two minutes gone Kedwell crossed and Payne was on hand to smash the ball into the net from close range.

The celebrations had barely died down when Crewe struck twice in as many minutes to open up a 3-1 lead. They re-took the lead on 52 minutes as Powell crossed for Leitch-Smith and despite Gazzaniga saving the first shot he was powerless to get anywhere near the rebound.

A minute later and Powell found space inside the area and shot into the net across Gazzaniga to claim his second of the game.

With an hour gone the Gills came agonisingly close to pulling a goal back through Whelpdale. His low shot was saved by Steve Phillips, but he was unable to claim the ball properly and it bobbled just wide.

Whelpdale was able to claim a goal, on 67 minutes, as Charlie Lee’s long throw was cleared into the path of the Gills man by Dan Shelley and he drove the ball low, through a crowd of bodies, into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.

Only a good save from Gazzaniga prevented Gills from going 4-2 behind, saving with his feet to deny Moore, and the hosts immediately went down the other end and levelled the game. Kedwell’s shot was parried by the keeper and Miller was there to smash home from close range.

The Gills were a man down for the closing stages when Spiller’s challenge on Jordan Brown was deemed worthy of a straight red card by the card-happy referee.

Gazzaniga needed to pull off a great save to deny Powell in the latter stages but, in the fifth minute of injury-time, Crewe substitute Clayton headed home a cross to win it for the visitors.

Gillingham: Gazzaniga, C Lee (Spiller 69mins), Jackman, King, Essam, J Payne, Montrose Whelpdale, O Lee (Kedwell 46mins), Oli (Evans 78mins), Miller. Subs not used: Davies, Hawkes.

Crewe: Phillips, Tootle, Davis, Westwood, Artell, Dugdale, Murphy, Leitch-Smith (Clayton 77mins), Moore, Shelley (Brown 76mins), Powell. Subs not used: Martin, Miller, Pearson.

Attendance: 5,428

What do you think of the Gills result? Have your say below.