Port Vale 2 Gillingham 0

GILLINGHAM manager Ronnie Jepson apologised to the fans after his side crashed to a two goal defeat at Port Vale on Tuesday night.

A goal in each half condemned Gillingham to another away defeat but after dominating for long periods Jepson was left frustrated at his team’s ability in front of goal.

"I apologise for that performance," said Jepson. "The supporters travel all the way up here on a Tuesday afternoon in conditions like that, and they expect to see better, so do I, so do my staff, and so does everybody connected with Gillingham Football Club.

"I walked around with my assistant to the supporters' coach and I was going to go on and apologise and tell them a few things but the coach had gone.

"I will strive to try and get them what they want, because it’s what I want as well, and what myself and Mick Docherty work for and hopefully we can get that."

Gills fans saw their side batter the Vale goal in the first half but with no reward and the hosts went into the break a goal up, after Ross Garnder’s long shot was deflected home by Danny Whitaker, despite the midfielder being well off-side.

Vale improved after the break but it was a blunder from keeper Kelvin Jack that handed them the chance to double the lead.

Jack’s weak goal-kick only went as far as Whitaker, who threaded through to Leon Constantine, and the striker slotted in to put his side 2-0 ahead after 75 minutes.

Gillingham created chances again after the break but again there was nobody to finish off the good work and Vale walked away with the points.

Gillingham: Jack, Jupp, Easton, Flynn (McDonald 75), Sancho, Chorley, Crofts, Bentley, Mulligan, Ndumbu-Nsungu (Savage 75), Jarvis.
Subs not used: Jackman, Johnson, Spiller.
Attendance: 3,077.