Gillingham 1 Newport County 2: League 2 match report from Priestfield Stadium - Omar Bogle wins it for the Exiles

Gillingham came unstuck at home in their final game at Priestfield this season.

Cameron Norman scored early for visitors Newport County but Tom Nichols levelled from the penalty spot for Gillingham eight minutes later. Omar Bogle’s 78th minute strike clinched a 2-1 win for the away side.

Gillingham - six unbeaten at home before the weekend and with just one home defeat in 11 - were unchanged for the visit of Newport after an excellent display at Bradford the week before.

Priestfield was packed for the Gills’ last home game of the season and congestion outside meant there were plenty of late arrivals. The crowd of 7,872 was the second best of the campaign - only beaten by the ‘pay what you can’ event in early February.

Superb home form since the start of the year had led Gillingham to pull well clear of the battle at the bottom of the division. There was nothing riding on Saturday’s game for either team but both teams were up for it.

Most fans were seated in time to see Newport take a surprise lead. Ethan Coleman had cleared Priestley Farquharson’s header off the line and from the corner Norman arrived at the back stick to nod home past Glenn Morris.

It was a lively half with frequent opportunities at both ends.

The Gills got back level with a 17th minute penalty. Nichols had been taken out by Charlie McNeill while about to strike the ball after being picked out with a low corner from Alex MacDonald. Nichols picked himself up and had too much power on the strike for keeper Nick Townsend, who got a hand on the spot-kick.

Newport’s finishing was slightly wayward as Omar Bogle - who used his strength well to create an opening - went wide and Norman hit an effort that almost hit the corner flag.

Gillingham had gone close