Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan travelled to rain soaked Kent still smarting from their first away defeat in the league this season at Boundary Park on Tuesday night and returned home wondering what the hell has gone wrong after an error by the normally reliable Roy Carroll in goal cost them a vital point.

The game was actually in doubt after heavy rain the previous night had made the pitch treacherous in places and was only given the go ahead at 2pm after a second pitch inspection by Hertfordshire official Bill Jordan.

A massive accident on the clockwise section of the M25 caused many fans to miss the game completely as traffic tailed back for miles not far from the Dartford Bridge but more importantly for Gillingham was the fact that first choice goalkeeper Vince Bartram also found himself unable to make it to the ground in time for the kick off and stand in keeper Steve Mautone was thrown into the starting line up for an unexpected debut.

Wigan were without a number of key players and manager John Benson was forced into a tactical swap around as Andy Liddell, Stuart Barlow, Scott Green and Terry Cooke were sidelined thanks to injury and Kevin Sharp was sitting out the end of his four match suspension following his second red card of the season whilst playing for the reserves.

Benson surprisingly dropped Gareth Griffiths and Darren Sheridan joining for Republic of Ireland star Alan McLoughlin who has recovered from a back injury.

Kevin Nicholls started the game joined by Roberto Martinez in what appeared to be a patched together side by Latics' standards this season.

Gillingham had opened their 'new stand' for the first time and it was highly amusing to see spectators sat in their new seats holding umbrellas to protect them from the elements as Gillingham had for some reason neglected to finish off the roofing in a large part of the half built stand.

The game started slowly with both sides trying to get a grip on the slippery pitch and a lot of the action went to and fro between the two midfields.

The first real chance of the afternoon fell to Simon Haworth on 13 minutes after Jeff Peron had raced clear down the left, charged into the area and passed a perfect square ball to Haworth on the right.

Haworth, unmarked and with only the keeper to beat from all of ten yards, side footed a first time shot ten feet wide when it seemed harder to miss the target.

Gillingham broke the deadlock, however, five minutes later following good work between Gills' Nicky Southall and Iffy Onuora. Onuora beat Arjan de Zeeuw to a long ball forward and racing down the right he slipped the ball to the line finding Southall in support.

A quick one-two and IFFY ONUORA found himself in space 15 yards out. His low shot squeezed itself under Roy Carroll, who should and normally would have done better with Onuora's effort but if you could blame the conditions or not is another matter.

It only took two minutes and a very large helping hand from Lady Luck for Latics to pull level. Michael Clegg's chip into the area looked to be heading to safety as ADRIAN PENNOCK got to the ball first and with all the time in the world sent his clearance completely the wrong way looping over the helpless Mautone who was a few yards off his line.

Wigan took heart from this goal and picked up the tempo and went very close to taking the lead on 35 minutes after Peron had linked up with Haworth again, sending him clear but his shot which beat Mautone rolled agonisingly across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.

Half Time: Gillingham 1 Wigan 1

The second half started brightly with chances at either end. Gillingham substitute Steve Butler flicked on a ball from Ty Gooden finding Onuora but he sent his header just wide of the post while Balmer, at the other end, had a header blocked from a Bradshaw corner.

Clegg picked out Haworth on 72 minutes but the Welshman's volley was again sent wide.

Gillingham then proceeded to take control of the game. Andy Hessenthaller looked to have given Gillingham the lead with ten minutes remaining on the clock but Carroll did well to back peddle and collect the ball with a fine save.

Then two minutes later they did snatch the winner. Ty Gooden and substitute Rodney Rowe played a short one-two from a corner and Gooden's cross into the heart of the penalty area was fumbled by Roy Carroll.

Carroll scrambled to collect the loose ball only for a Wigan defender to kick the ball straight at him sending the deflection to JUNIOR LEWIS outside the area and Lewis coolly placed a shot over two defenders and into the roof of the net.

With only three minutes remaining John Benson brought off Nicholls and Clegg replacing them with Griffiths and McLoughlin pushing Arjan de Zeeuw up front in a list ditch attempt to salvage something from the game.

It was Gillingham, however, who created the better chances in the remaining moments of the game with Lewis and Rowe both going close and deep into stoppage time a miss hit clearance from Carroll found Hessenthaler midway into Wigan territory. He hit a first time ball but Griffiths did well to block on the line with his chest.

The result leaves Wigan's destiny in the hands of other results and should on fire Burnley manage to take all three points at Turf Moor on Tuesday night against Gillingham then they will find themselves out of the automatic promotion spot they could so easily have secured over the past fortnight.

Preston now look certainties for the title after soundly beating Bristol Rovers away, moving them eight points clear with only twelve to play for.

Full Time: Gillingham 2 Wigan 1