By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham were relegated back to League 2 after slipping to a three-goal defeat at Wycombe on Saturday.

The Gills ended the first half a goal behind after Matt Phillips struck in injury time and hopes of ending their miserable away record were in tatters when Alan Bennett headed home a second after the break. Kevin Betsy netted a third for a team who went into the game already relegated.

A win for Exeter at Huddersfield and three points for Tranmere at Stockport condemned the Gills to relegation after just one season in League 1.

Gills boss Mark Stimson admitted; "We thought it was going to be okay because we had a positive team again and we looked to take the game to them.

"Wycombe, though, played the game with no fear and I'm sure that if they play like that again next season then they'll win the division by Christmas.

"We didn't get anywhere near them and we didn't match them in any department."

A dour opening half saw the Gills create few goalscoring opportunities but they remained just above the relegation zone because Exeter were being held to a draw by Huddersfield.

A goal for Exeter, however, would have changed everything and put the Gills in the drop zone. With Gillingham failing to do their bit they were relying on results elsewhere.

Alan Julian was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half and he had to get down low to make saves from Phillips and Lewis Montrose.

The Gills’ best chance came from Simeon Jackson after 18 minutes but after good control he shot wide.

Wycombe’s goal came in the first minute of added on time before the break and it came straight from a Gillingham attack. Phillips ran at the defence and shot across Julian to put the visitors in a worrying situation heading into the second half.

Gillingham should have been level after 59 minutes but Jackson missed from just a yard out after John Nutter put in a great cross.

Dennis Oli also fluffed a golden opportunity moments later and those missed chances proved costly as Wycombe scored a second on 64 minutes with a header from Alan Bennett.

Jon-Paul Pittman thought he had scored the third but that was ruled out for offside and at the other end chances continued to go awry, with Jackson firing wide.

After 72 minutes Wycombe had their third when Betsy smashed in a shot that went past Julian following a deflection from Mark Bentley.

Luke Rooney and Chris Dickson were brought on but they were unable to do anything to change the outcome.

With 10 minutes to go a goal at Exeter left the Gills in the bottom four and heading back to League 2.

Gills: Julian, Palmer, Nutter, Gowling, Bentley, Weston, Miller, Barcham, Oli (Rooney 76mins), Howe (Dickson 79mins), Jackson. Subs not used: Royce, Palmer, Jackman, Wynter, Maher.

Wycombe: Heaton, Hunt, Woodman, Bennett, Pittman, Montrose (Ainsworth 76mins), Phillips, Mousinho, McLeod (Harris 62mins), Betsy, Kelly. Subs not used: Oliver, Keates, Harrold, Westwood.

Attendance: 7,110.

Where now for Gillingham? Did they deserve to go down? Have your say in our comments section.