SWINDON Town’s miserable record at Priestfield Stadium continued after a 2-0 defeat to Gillingham on Saturday.

Town had not beaten Gillingham away from home in their previous nine attempts, a run that stretched back to December 1986, and that awful stretch continued after goals from Vadaine Oliver and Trae Coyle in Kent.

The scoreline was hardly representative of the game, however, as Swindon enjoyed the majority of the ball and chances – though John Sheridan’s men were just unable to find the net in Saturday’s early kick-off in League One.

Sheridan made two changes to the team that were beaten 4-2 away at Crewe Alexandra last Tuesday night.

Mathieu Baudry came in for Paul Caddis while Taylor Curran made a rare start - his first league start of the season, having played just 16 total minutes in League One beforehand.

Town began the game right on top and could have opened the scoring inside 30 seconds after a searching ball forward – which could have been called back for handball on Jack Tucker – found Tyler Smith one on one.

However, as Smith shaped to shoot, Tucker got back with an excellent last-ditch sliding tackle to deny him.

And from Payne's corner, Mathieu Baudry flicked the ball on, and Anthony Grant had the goal at his mercy eight yards out, but he volleyed well over with his left foot.

Town continued their hot start in the form of another chance minutes later. Jaiyesimi forced a stop out of Bonham from a tight angle following a nifty piece of skill along the by-line.

Once again, Town went close from the corner, but Baudry was unable to direct his header on target.

In the 17th minute, the sucker punch came for Swindon. A ball over the top was poorly dealt with by Taylor Curran, and Vadaine Oliver simply steadied himself after brushing off the Town defender and whipped a superb strike into the very top corner of Kovar's net.

But despite conceding, Swindon came back with authority and hit the bar twice in a matter of seconds.

First, a free-kick was whipped in by Matt Smith and Jonathan Grounds got around the back to head goalwards, but off the bar.

The rebound fell to the in-form Tyler Smith who also managed to hit the bar with his header from six yards out.

On a rare foray forward from the Gills, Baudry had to move sharply across to block from Kyle Dempsey when a goal looked inevitable.

Scott Robertson lashed a set piece into the wall before striking the follow up straight at Kovar 10 minutes before the break.

After an injury to Donohue, Dion Conroy was sent on for his first competitive appearance since September 2018 five minutes before half-time.

Odimayo, who was enjoying a decent game at right-back, powered forward once again just before the whistle, but his cross was turned away with a cluster of Town players lurking.

A quiet start to the second half was interrupted when Swindon won a free-kick on the right touchline in a good position for a whipped cross from Matt Smith.

The ball came in perfectly, but Baudry could only head straight at Bonham.

Conroy was booked moments later for a poor tackle in the corner, before Gillingham had a good chance to double their lead on a breakaway.

Town won a free-kick in an identical position to the one just before, but Matt Smith's delivery was poor, and Gillingham broke dangerously.

Dempsey and Samuel exchanged passes, but the former's final cross was overhit with only Jaiyesimi and Odimayo in the way.

Town were beginning to turn the screw on Gillingham, and the visitors twice went close to an equaliser midway through the second half.

First, Jaiyesimi linked up well with Payne on the left before the winger struck his curling shot into the stand. Then, Anthony Grant fired a pass into Matt Smith who took a touch out of his feet before lasering a left-footed shot narrowly wide.

Swindon continued to dominate possession, but still the goal eluded them as Payne saw two efforts blocked. The same player almost turned provider inside the final 15 minutes after laying off to Grant, but the midfielder’s effort curled over.

And with 10 minutes to go, the inevitable sucker punch came once again from Gillingham.

Dominic Samuel picked out substitute, Trae Coyle on the left-hand side who simply raced in on goal and slid the ball to the left of Kovar and into the net to ensure the points stayed on the Medway.

GFC starting XI: Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Ogilvie, O'Connor, McKenzie, Robertson, Dempsey, Samuel, Akinde, Oliver.

GFC subs: Walsh, Drysdale, Woods, MacDonald, Eccles, Willock, Coyle.

STFC starting XI: Kovar, Grounds, Baudry, Jaiyesimi, T Smith, M Smith, Odimayo, Donohue, Payne, Curran, A Grant.

STFC subs: Fryer, Caddis, Conroy, Lyden, Haines, Parsons, Holland