Gillingham 0 Colchester United 3: Fiacre Kelleher, Samson Tovide and Bradley Ihionvien on target in League 2 match at Priestfield; Ethan Coleman shown red card late on

Gillingham’s winning start to the season came to an abrupt end at Priestfield on Saturday.

Substitute Fiacre Kelleher smashed the ball home following a corner for Colchester and further goals came from Samson Tovide and Bradley Ihionvien during a devastating 18-minute spell in the second half for the Gills, who were beaten 3-0 and finished with 10 men after Ethan Coleman’s late red card.

Gillingham had been looking for a fifth straight win to start the season - something the club had never achieved before. They had won all of their first four games 1-0.

It was a bright start from the Gills against Colchester but they faded and the visitors proved ruthless in the second half.

Newly signed winger Connor Mahoney started for the Gills, one of two changes to the XI for Neil Harris’ table-topping side.

Tim Dieng was also brought back in and he had three chances in the opening stages of the first half against a Colchester side who had lost their opening three league games.

Dieng’s best opportunity came from a Mahoney corner, meeting it unchallenged as he raced in at the far post, but keeper Owen Goodman saved well.

Another header went wide from Dieng soon after and he failed to get enough on a right-footed shot when Tom Nichols picked him out in the box. Ashley Nadesan had done the hard work in the build-up to win possession.

Mahoney had shown some good early promise, almost putting Nadesan in on goal with an angled 60-yard pass. Smashing a clearance into a home fan wasn’t so wise but there was no harm done, with smiles all round.

Colchester’s best early chance fell to Tovide, finding space in the box after trading passes with Arthur Read, but the shot was saved by Jake Turner.

It was a half that promised plenty in the early