Northampton Town 2 Gillingham 1 match report: Aiden O'Brien scores with first touch in League 2 defeat

Substitute Aiden O’Brien scored with his first touch but Gillingham left empty-handed from promotion-chasing Northampton on Easter Monday.

It means Gills have only won once in their last eight away matches in League 2, as an improved second-half display was not rewarded in the points column.

The game pitted two of the division’s form teams against each other. Northampton were keen to respond from a Good Friday reverse at Doncaster while the Gills – almost perfect at Priestfield since the turn of the year - wanted away points on the board.

Neil Harris made three changes for Gillingham from the team that beat Doncaster on Good Friday.

In come Will Wright, Dom Jefferies and George Lapslie for Alex MacDonald, O'Brien and Conor Masterson, who came off in that game with a head injury.

The game also marked a 350th Gills appearance for defender Max Ehmer while former Gills youngster Harvey Lintott was among a three-man Northampton defence.

Former Dover man Mitch Pinnock sent a second-minute shot well wide for the hosts but it was a largely quiet opening period as Gills’ 4-4-2 came up against the hosts’ favoured 3-5-2 formation.

Pinnock’s cross was headed wide by Louis Appere under pressure and skipper Jon Guthrie headed over from a Pinnock corner.

Gills never had a shot at goal in the first half, their best opening came on 25 minutes when Guthrie had to clear the ball from the feet of Tom Nichols after strike partner Oli Hawkins headed a Robbie McKenzie centre into his path.

Northampton’s attacks started to gather momentum – McKenzie did well to block a Sam Hoskins drive – so it was no surprise when they took a 32nd-minute lead. Pinnock’s cross from the right was tentatively headed clear by Wright into the path of Appere, who