The Terras controlled most of the possession but were unable to break down the visitors, and when they did get past the defence found goalkeeper Jamie Beale in top form.

Matt Chant grabbed the winner midway through the second half but Wey-mouth had a late penalty shout turned down even though Jamie Frampton’s shot appeared to hit a hand in the 18-yard box.

Weymouth made no fewer than seven changes to the team that started the 4-1 defeat to Chelmsford City on Saturday, a match that would turn out to be Ian Hutchinson’s last in charge.

Gillingham keeper Beale had to be alert inside the opening 20 minutes to make a smart save low to his right from Carl Foster’s shot on the turn and then push Jamie McGuinness’ cross-cum-shot.

Jordan Rose blazed over and Gills’ captain Dan Rogers almost gifted the Terras the lead but had Jamie Manley to thank for diverting his header from a Scott Dixon corner off the line.

It was Jamie Manley who responded for the visitors, shooting tamely at Austin Byfield, but Foster tested Beale again at the other end as the Town custodian scrambled to his left to keep out the striker’s deflected effort.

Chris Allen wasted the Terras’ best chance of the opening stages of the second period when he broke clear on the right and shot at Beale when he really should have crossed.

However, Gillingham went closer when Chant forced Byfield into a full stretch save.

Byfield did not know much about his next save when Jason Manley’s deep free kick glanced off a Weymouth head, against Byfield but wide.

However, from the resulting corner the Gills struck the killer blow as Weymouth failed to clear with several attempts and the ball dropped to Chant, who stabbed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

Tom Richardson scuffed an effort at Beale before Foster hit the bar from three yards from Martin Slocombe’s inch-perfect low cross and Foster was even nearer to the leveller eight minutes from the end when his left-footed shot was just kept out by a sprawling Beale.

The visiting stopper made another athletic save to flick Richardson’s header over the crossbar and referee Ken Horrigan waved away late claims for a penalty after an apparent handball by a Gills defender.