Gillingham’s bubble was burst on Saturday by one of their manager’s former players.

Gareth Ainsworth spoke pre-match about the quality of former QPR player Stephen Duke-McKenna and the Harrogate winger silenced a packed Priestfield crowd with a goal early in the first half, one that turned out to be the winner.

Gillingham went into the match on a club-record 21-game unbeaten run, and with a packed Priestfield Stadium, there was hope that they could add another to the tally.

But it proved to be a frustrating day for the Gills as they were beaten 1-0, their first loss under Ainsworth, which also saw them lose their place at the top of League 2.

Gillingham had been closing in on another record, having scored in all 18 of Ainsworth’s previous games. The record for consecutive goals in league games stands at 20.

A season’s best home crowd went in anticipation of another positive result, even if Harrogate have proven to be tough opponents since the two clubs have become Football League opponents.

Ainsworth named an unchanged side which had started the week before at Newport. The Gills had won that match after coming from behind.

They were facing another tough afternoon after conceding first at Priestfield.

Bradley Dack smashed an early shot over the bar for the Gills into the Town End, one which was half full of Gills fans after the club put £5 tickets on sale for the weekend clash.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Harrogate took the lead. Duke McKenna cut in from the wing and ran across the edge of the box unchallenged before firing beyond Glenn Morris’ reach.

Priestfield was silenced, apart from the 85 supporting the team from North Yorkshire.

Ellis Taylor went close to making it two soon after with a shot that went just past the upright.

The Gills were struggling the make clear-cut chances.

Josh Andrews got his head to a Remeao Hutton throw and visiting keeper James Belshaw turned it over the bar.

Sam Gale shot wide after Elliott Nevitt had a chance blocked and the best chance of the half was from winger Jonny Smith, looking for the bottom corner but finding keeper Belshaw equal to it.

There was a change at the break for the Gills as Ethan Coleman replaced Dack.

The Gills came out on the front-foot in the second half and Anthony O’Connor headed a powerful Nevitt shot clear after Andy Smith had glanced a header wide from an earlier corner.

Home striker Andrews nodded another chance wide from Clark’s cross and with just over 20 minutes left Ainsworth made a trio of changes to try and make the pressure count.

Harrogate defended well to leave the Gills frustrated, however. On a rare attack the visitors did go close to a second when Conor McAleny shot wide.

Seb Palmer-Houlden went closest to an equaliser as he got a head to Jonny Williams’ late corner, the ball dropping just wide of the post in a crowded area.

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Gale, A Smith, McKenzie (Rowe 68mins), J Smith (McCleary 61mins), J Williams, Dack (Coleman 46mins), Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden 68mins), Andrews (Vokes 68mins). Subs not used: Turner, Ogie.

Harrogate: Belshaw, Slater, Evans, Burrell, Morris, Duke-McKenna, O’Connor, Muldoon (Bennett 65mins), Faulkner, Taylor (McAleny 73mins), Smith (Fox 90mins). Subs not used: Oxley, Bradbury, McCoulsky, Sutton.

Referee: James Bell

Attendance: 7,406 (85 away)