Match report: Gillingham 1 Crewe Alexandra 0: League Two leaders defeated by a late goal from Sam Gale
Sam Gale's late goal for Gillingham in League Two on Saturday enhanced his already stellar reputation.
Crewe's flawless start to the season came to an abrupt end as the Gills upset the league leaders at home for the second straight game.
However, Crewe, who scored seven goals in their first two away games, struck the woodwork four times, so the three points were quite fortunate.
Bradley Dack replaced Jonny Williams as the only alteration made by Gills since their victory against Chesterfield in the middle of the week.
Left-handed Robbie McKenzie was making his 200th Gills appearance, and Lenni Cirino held onto his position following a goal-scoring debut.
With Gills defender Gale receiving an early yellow card for bringing down Tommi O'Reilly on the outskirts of his own area within five minutes, the visitors got off to the best start.
Mickey Demetriou's head struck Max Sanders' free-kick, but his header bounced past the crossbar, almost resulting in double punishment for the home team.
On 12 minutes, the vivacious O'Reilly, who had previously struck the post in the first half, managed to get away from Gale once more. Remeao Hutton was there to cut the ball clear after goalie Glenn Morris sent off a powerful 20-yard drive.
Crewe's left-back Halfway through the half, Reece Hutchinson was given a booking for preventing Gills from taking a throw-in.
Crewe lived up to the early-season statistic that they had won and given up the most fouls in League Two, but it was a stop-start first half. In the first thirty minutes, thirteen free kicks were awarded.
Josh Andrews was pulled and shoved in most directions, as usual.
After Andrews nearly had his shirt removed from his back, Hutton picked up the striker, who pulled his opening attempt from 20 yards out wide of the upright, setting up a potential Gills play.
After that, Hutton pushed forward, and Andrews' touch brought up Elliott Nevitt, whose initial 25-yard attempt missed the mark.
After that, Andrews sent Crewe keeper Tom Booth into action with another long-range attempt, but there was little difference between the two teams at the interval.
Demetriou was booked for hauling down Andrews to stop a quick Gills break, and Crewe's fouls kept piling up after the interval.
After a Crewe defender blocked Dack's goalbound attempt from Cirino's cross, the visitors lost a fantastic opportunity to take the lead in a matter of seconds.
Glenn Morris rushed out of his goal after a long pass over the top, but the ball rebounded over his head. Josh March had an open goal as a result, but he was only able to locate the side netting from the far right.
Then, with Morris beaten, captain Sanders' left-footed 20-yard shot in the 56th minute crashed back off the angle of post and bar, sending the visitors into the woodwork for the second time in the game.
Just after the hour, Nevitt sprinted at the Crewe defence, but Booth beat away his near-post attempt.
O'Reilly crossed from the left, but March's shot bounced off the inside of the post and was cleared to safety by Gale. Crewe then struck the woodwork a third time.
As Gills drove for a winner in the final ten minutes, Rowe stood out, coming close to finding the far corner with a right-footed attempt that was deflected for a corner before dragging his shot wide from 20 yards out.
Gale was there to hook the ball home from close range after Vokes headed Little's corner back across goal in the 89th minute, sending Priestfield into a frenzy.
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