Port Vale 0 Gillingham 1: League 2 match report from Vale Park

Gillingham won on the final day of the season at promoted Port Vale to end their campaign on a high.

Aaron Rowe gave Gillingham the lead, with his first goal for the club, after a tame first half for the visitors. Lorent Tolaj wasted Port Vale’s best chance in the opening half as the Gills won 1-0.

Vale were already promoted and had to better the result of leaders Doncaster Rovers to take the title. With the Yorkshire side winning at Notts County, the Valiants had to settle for second place in the table.

Gillingham end a disappointing season with hope for what lies ahead, 12 unbeaten with three wins from their last six.

Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to his starting line-up and also switched formation. Out went the wing-backs as the manager reverted to a four-man defence.

At the other end of the field he put faith in loan strikers Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Chelsea) and Asher Agbinone (Crystal Palace).

Morgan played between Agbinone and Aaron Rowe in a three-man attack for the Gills.

A sell-out home crowd were there to watch, along with several hundred fans cheering on the Gills, with renewed confidence ahead of a busy summer for Ainsworth.

The Gills spent most of the first half defending, reaching the interval without an attempt at the home goal.

Vale were unable to make their dominance count during the opening 45 minutes, however, with Lorent Tolaj wasting their best chance just before the interval.

Ronan Curtis had picked a hole in the Gills defence to find Mitch Clark and his low cross for Tolaj just needed tapping past Glenn Morris but he lifted the effort over the bar.

Other half chances for the hosts came and went. Morris claimed a shot from Curtis and watched as Clark volleyed another effort over the bar.

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