Gillingham overcame a torrid start at Newport to win and break a club record.

The Gills fell behind after just 30 seconds and goalkeeper Glenn Morris then saved a ninth-minute penalty from the hosts before Bradley Dack struck twice, either side of a Jonny Smith wonder-goal.

Gillingham went into the game 20 unbeaten - equalling a club record in the win over Notts County the week before, one that had stood since the Division 4 promotion campaign of 1973/74.

They needed to avoid defeat against their bogey side Newport County to better it - and the record was extended to 21 games thanks to the 3-1 comeback victory.

While the Welsh side were struggling at the wrong end of League 2, they had been difficult opponents prior to the weekend. The Gills had lost the previous six league meetings between the sides and suffered defeat on all three visits to Newport’s Rodney Road ground.

A 3-1 loss at Newport back in March preceded Ainsworth’s appointment. It’s the last time the Gills lost a game prior to their impressive run of form.

John Coleman’s side that night were three down inside 30 minutes, and the interim boss stubbornly stuck with the starting eleven, rather than turn to his substitutes. Dack had been one of the unused subs that night - but he was a key man on Saturday, continuing to captain the side with Armani Little injured.

Ainsworth’s turned the mood around since taking charge and he still hasn’t lost a league game.

He kept faith with the same team which started the week before but there was a first appearance in the squad for summer signing Seb Palmer-Houlden - a former Newport loanee - named among the substitutes.

It was all-action at Newport during a relentless first 45 minutes that had goals and plenty of fight from both teams, battling at either end of the table.

Newport looked like the table-toppers in the opening stages, however, making a blistering start. With less than a minute played the visitors took the lead when Nathaniel Opoku headed in Bobby Kamwa’s cross.

Kamwa had scored a hat-trick in that last match at Rodney Parade and was chief tormentor early on as the hosts looked to get at the Gillingham defence.

Newport had the chance to score a second from the penalty spot when Andy Smith fouled Cameron Antwi. The player got back to his feet but the spot-kick was saved by Morris and the follow-up hit wide by the same player.

Antwi was denied again moments later after being slipped in on goal by Kamwa, Morris producing a super one-handed save. The Gills keeper made another great stop from the same player later in the half but by then, Ainsworth’s side had turned it around.

Dack started the fightback after firing home on 23 minutes, crashing in a shot from the edge of the box after Max Clark’s corner had been cleared into his path.

It was 2-1 to the Gills with 36 minutes played when Wigan loan winger Smith picked up a pass from Remeao Hutton, drove forward and unleashed a shot across the keeper and into the top corner.

With Morris excelling at one end, the Gills managed to go further in front after Sam Gale was chopped down in the box by Matt Baker - the former Gillingham youngster. Dack took over penalty duty from Clark - the regular taker under Ainsworth - and fired low into the bottom corner from 12 yards to put the Gills 3-1 up.

It ended a relentless half that had seen both sides put in some big challenges of a wet Rodney Parade surface. Josh Andrews was in the book for a challenge on Baker that referee Leigh Doughty felt was worth a booking and nothing more, with the home crowd eager for a red.

Morris denied Reindorf early in the second half with another good save but it wouldn’t have counted as the linesman’s flag went up for offside.

Newport continued to look for a way past the Gills defence, but it was harder for them with Ainsworth’s men protecting a two-goal advantage and able to commit extra bodies to defending.

Elliott Nevitt headed a chance wide for the Gills and keeper Nik Tzanev palmed away a shot from Dack as he looked to lob in his third of the game. Robbie McKenzie also had a shot deflected wide.

Newport continued to be thwarted in their attempts to get back into the game as Gillingham’s impressive start to the season continued.

Sam Vokes was denied a Gillingham fourth in stoppage time, as he stabbed a cross at goal, but keeper Tzanev saved.

Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Gale, A Smith, McKenzie, J Williams (Vokes 89mins), J Smith (Rowe 66mins), Dack (Coleman 74mins), Nevitt, Andrews (Palmer-Houlden 74mins). Subs not used: Turner, Ogie, Cirino.

Newport County: Tzanev, Ogunneye, Davies, Baker, Jenkins, Braybrooke, Whitmore (Lloyd 68mins), Antwi, Kamwa, Reindorf (Baker-Richardson 51mins), Opoku (Spellman 76mins). Subs not used: Wright, Evans, Glennon, Clarke.

Referee: Leigh Doughty

Attendance: 4,022 (601 away)

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