Gillingham 1 Bromley 4 match report: League 2 leaders win at Priestfield thanks to Ben Thompson’s hat-trick and Corey Whitely despite Bradley Dack’s reply

Gillingham’s winless record against Bromley continued as they were thumped at Priestfield on Saturday.

It was the worst home defeat in four years for the Gills, since they lost 7-2 to Oxford in January 2022 at Priestfield.

League 2 leaders Bromley raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening half-hour and remain on course to win promotion.

There was one change for the Gills with winger Jonny Smith ruled out for the rest of the season through injury. That meant Garath McCleary, who won a controversial late penalty when the teams met in September, started against his former club.

New signings Ronan Hale and Cameron Antwi were both named on the bench for the home side.

Bromley handed a debut to Zech Medley, the former Gills man joined on loan from Fleetwood for the rest of the season, along with Port Vale loanee Jesse Debrah.

The visitors settled quickest but Gillingham were enjoying their best moment of the opening 10 minutes before the visitors broke away to score.

Swift and incisive, Michael Cheek fed Corey Whitely down the right and his cross was flashed beyond keeper Glenn Morris by Ben Thompson.

Thompson then headed over after Mitch Pinnock’s shot was deflected as Bromley raced forward with purpose at every opportunity.

The second goal duly arrived on 19 minutes as Cheek took advantage of some dreadful defending by Andy Smith. His shot was only pushed out by Morris straight into the path of Thompson to score into an empty net.

It was some return to Priestfield for the energetic Thompson, the 30-year-old featured for Gillingham in 2022.

Gills looked to get back into the contest and Aaron Rowe forced a fine one-handed stop from keeper Grant Smith.

Pinnock then clashed with Sam Gale after the ball went out of play and