Saints succumbed to a close defeat in Kent as Gillingham eased their relegation fears with a 2-1 win at the Priestfield.

The hosts took a first half lead through Rene Howe's strike as he capitalised on a loose ball at the back to slot home into an unguarded net, but the Gills knew they would need more to get a victory.

A more spirited second half display from both sides started with the teams and the fans alike battling the elements as the rain swept in, but it didn't deter Mark Stimson's men from doubling their advantage eight minutes after the break when Josh Gowling headed home.

Saints almost responded immediately through Papa Waigo's first touch after coming on as the visitors' final substitution, but he was foiled before David Connolly pulled a goal back on 65 with a smartly struck finish from the edge of the area. However, that proved to be as good as it got for the away side who lost for the first time in ten league games.

Gillingham: Julian, Nutter, Bentley, Howe, Payne, Weston, Gowling, Miller, Barcham, Jackson (Dickson 87), Oli. Subs (not used): Royce, Maher, Palmer, Jackman, Wynter, Rooney.

Saints: Davis, Otsemobor, Martin, Fonte (Seaborne 46), Mills, James, Puncheon, Hammond, Lallana (Lambert 46), Barnard (Papa Waigo 59), Connolly. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Wotton, McNish, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Referee: Mr. M. Russell (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 9,504 (including 2,176 away)

Aaron Martin was handed his first Saints start in the centre of defence alongside José Fonte, whilst manager Alan Pardew also made a handful of changes to the side which started against Carlisle last time out as Joseph Mills, Lloyd James, Lee Barnard and David Connolly came into the line up.

An open start to the game from saw some early running in attack from both sides with David Connolly looking lively on his first start for the visitors since the visit of Exeter to St. Mary's in December, going close with a volley inside the opening five minutes.

The Gills were equally as gung-ho in their approach, with Fonte and Otsemobor alert to deal with the crosses on either flank before Kelvin Davis was forced into a save as he held Simeon Jackson's header from six yards out.

Fonte picked up the first booking of the match for his foul on Curtis Weston as he tried to probe his way through on the right.

On 17 Mills' cross from the by-line on the left was met smartly on the turn by Puncheon, but Julian did just enough to keep out the number four's high shot, gathering the ball at the second attempt.

However, just two minutes later, Mark Stimson's side stole a march with a breakaway goal. Mark Bentley's ball up from the back picked out Jackson, who darted towards the advancing Davis with the ball spilling out straight into the path of Rene Howe to tidy up by slotting home into the unguarded net.

Saints responded with a Lloyd James free-kick from the edge of the area which was held by Julian, but the game became a more congested affair as both teams struggled to maintain any rhythm to their play.

The first half came to a close with little more to note than the one goal which separated the teams.

Half Time: Gillingham 1-0 Saints

Pardew made a double substitution at the start of the second 45 as Lallana and Fonte made way for Rickie Lambert and Dan Seaborne. During the interval, the heavens had opened which made for an uncomfortable experience for the Saints fans in the open terrace behind the goal the visitors were now attacking.

The slick surface also tested Davis early on as the ball slipped out of his grasp at the feet of Howe, but fortunately nothing came from it.

Mills was the next Saint to receive a caution as he brought down Oli and from the resulting set-piece Jackson planted a header off the base of the post as the Gills presented a warning and in the next attack the hosts doubled their lead.

With the ball still in Saints' half from the free-kick Adam Miller sent a cross into the middle of the area which defender Josh Gowling met perfectly to guide home a priceless looking second for the hosts on 53 minutes.

Less than five minutes later, Jackson saw his header from a corner kept out by Mills who saw the ball clear at the far post.

On 59 Lee Barnard succumbed to a knock with Papa Waigo his replacement. The Senegalese then almost scored with his first touch of the game, as Connolly cleverly back-heeled the ball into his path, only for Julian to thwart him low down.

The stormy weather continued to make for some uncertain moments at either end, and with the attacking prowess at Saints' disposal it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors registered a goal which duly arrived on 65 minutes. Puncheon forced his way through from the right of midfield with a bustling run and then Connolly took over to lash home into the near side of Julian's goal making it 2-1.

Lambert was the next to go close with just under twenty minutes to play as he collected Otsemobor's cross before Jack Payne threw himself in the way to deny the frontman's shot inside the area.

Martin went into the book for a foul on Howe before Saints turned up the pressure on the home side with Hammond heading narrowly wide from Puncheon's corner at the far post with ten on the clock.

A fiercely competitive end to the game was broken up by the introduction of Chris Dickson from the Gills' bench for the hard working Jackson in attack, but the action quickly resumed with Weston firing wide from distance prior to four minutes of additional time for stoppages added on.

Howe was booked for protesting during the extra few minutes as the hosts sought possession to see out the game, which in the end they managed to do as they held on for the win.

Full Time: Gillingham 2-1 Saints