A brace from Deane Smalley sent Chesterfield six points clear at the top of League Two.
The forward netted early with a free header following Javan Vidal's cross.
And Smalley was celebrating his fourth of the season early in the second half after breaching the Gillingham offside trap and finishing well.
Keeper Tommy Lee was in inspired form for the visitors, twice denying Cody McDonald before half time and also foiling Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "The chairman's come in saying he can't believe we lost 2-0 because it was a tremendous performance.
"We could have easily come away with something. In the first half it was the best we've played at home.
"Lots of positives, I've had a look at the second goal, which everyone says was offside, but it's hard to tell on the DVD, but we can't do anything about that.
"John Sheridan [Chesterfield manager] said we are the best side they've played this season, which is a nice compliment, but it doesn't help, we've ended up with nothing."
Chesterfield manager John Sheridan told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It's very satisfying to come to a very good side who are in form and keep a clean sheet and win 2-0.
"Gillingham are probably the best team we have played so far judging by their first-half performance.
"We rode our luck first half but in the second half I thought it was a good, solid performance and we got into the game."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Gillingham
0-2
Chesterfield
FT
(HT 0-1)
Smalley 13
Smalley 49
Gillingham
01 Julian
03 Nutter
15 Lawrence
16 Gowling
18 Jackman (Payne 72)
02 Fuller yellow card
04 Weston (Rooney 64)
07 Maher
17 Spiller (Payne 80)
10 McDonald
27 Akinfenwa
Substitutes
26 Cronin,
06 Richards,
08 Bentley,
14 Rooney,
28 Payne,
32 Martin,
23 Payne
Chesterfield
01 Lee
03 Robertson
06 Ford
31 Vidal
07 Allott
10 Whitaker
11 Mattis
18 Morris
09 Davies (Bowery 90+2)
22 Smalley (Lester 85)
25 Talbot
Substitutes
26 Redmond,
04 Lowry,
12 Griffiths,
16 Breckin,
08 Niven,
14 Lester,
21 Bowery
Ref: DrysdaleAtt: 4,770
GILLINGHAM
CHESTERFIELD
Possession
Gillingham52%
Chesterfield48%
Attempts on target
Gillingham8
Chesterfield3
Attempts off target
Gillingham8
Chesterfield6
Corners
Gillingham6
Chesterfield3
Fouls
Gillingham6
Chesterfield10
Final Result
95:32 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
Full Time
90:00+4:37 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Luke Rooney.
90:00+3:04 Jordan Bowery gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Barry Fuller. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Lawrence.
90:00+1:39 Foul by Josh Gowling on Dwayne Mattis, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Lee.
90:00+1:39 Substitution Jordan Bowery joins the action as a substitute, replacing Craig Davies.
90:00+0:10 Shot by John Nutter from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
89:27 Handball decision goes against Simon Ford. John Nutter restarts play with the free kick.
85:58 Kevin Maher takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
84:48 Corner taken by Luke Rooney from the right by-line to the near post, Simon Ford makes a clearance.
84:48 Substitution Jack Lester replaces Deane Smalley.
83:33 Luke Rooney takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
82:53 Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save made by Tommy Lee.
82:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by Simon Ford. John Nutter restarts play with the free kick.
82:10 Craig Davies has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.
81:14 Handball by Deane Smalley. Matthew Lawrence restarts play with the free kick.
80:28 Adebayo Akinfenwa takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
79:24 Substitution Stefan Payne is brought on as a substitute for Danny Spiller.
79:04 Craig Davies takes a shot. Save by Alan Julian.
77:29 Unfair challenge on Josh Gowling by Craig Davies results in a free kick. Alan Julian takes the free kick.
74:35 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Spiller, Simon Ford manages to make a clearance.
73:18 Luke Rooney takes a shot. Tommy Lee makes a save.
71:08 Substitution Jack Payne on for Danny Jackman.
68:56 Craig Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Gowling. Kevin Maher takes the free kick.
67:07 Foul by Barry Fuller on Gregor Robertson, free kick awarded. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.
66:24 Ian Morris fouled by Barry Fuller, the ref awards a free kick. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.
66:24 Booking Barry Fuller goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
63:30 Substitution Curtis Weston goes off and Luke Rooney comes on.
62:48 Danny Whitaker takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
62:14 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Whitaker, clearance made by Kevin Maher.
59:57 Effort from outside the penalty box by Danny Spiller goes wide right of the goal.
58:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Josh Gowling by Deane Smalley. Kevin Maher restarts play with the free kick.
58:29 Cody McDonald has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
57:48 Handball decision goes against Simon Ford. Free kick taken by Danny Spiller.
56:32 Cody McDonald is caught offside. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.
54:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Jackman by Deane Smalley. Free kick crossed right-footed by Kevin Maher from left wing, save made by Tommy Lee.
52:45 Corner from the left by-line taken by Danny Spiller, clearance by Ian Morris.
51:06 Cody McDonald is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Tommy Lee.
Correction - 48:34 GOAL - Deane Smalley:Gillingham 0 - 2 Chesterfield A goal is scored by Deane Smalley from close in low into the middle of the goal. Gillingham 0-2 Chesterfield.
48:34 Assist on the goal came from Javan Vidal.
48:34 GOAL - Deane Smalley:Gillingham 0 - 2 Chesterfield Deane Smalley fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Gillingham 0-2 Chesterfield.
47:39 Craig Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Gowling. Alan Julian takes the direct free kick.
45:51 Unfair challenge on Deane Smalley by Barry Fuller results in a free kick. The ball is crossed by Danny Whitaker, Effort from outside the penalty box by Ian Morris goes wide right of the target.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:01 The players leave the pitch at half time.
43:39 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Curtis Weston played to the near post, Deane Smalley manages to make a clearance.
42:36 Effort from deep inside the area by Cody McDonald misses to the left of the goal.
40:49 Effort on goal by Craig Davies from just inside the area clears the bar.
35:19 Cody McDonald takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
34:14 Headed effort from inside the area by Dwayne Mattis misses to the left of the target.
33:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Drew Talbot by Curtis Weston. Ian Morris takes the free kick.
33:00 Long distance effort from Danny Whitaker misses to the left of the goal.
31:57 Effort on goal by Danny Jackman from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
26:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Davies on Matthew Lawrence. Free kick taken by Alan Julian.
22:23 Danny Spiller has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.
21:30 Foul by Ian Morris on Danny Spiller, free kick awarded. Kevin Maher restarts play with the free kick.
20:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ian Morris on Kevin Maher. Matthew Lawrence takes the free kick.
20:03 The assistant referee flags for offside against Cody McDonald. Simon Ford takes the free kick.
17:27 The referee blows for offside against Deane Smalley. Free kick taken by Josh Gowling.
16:14 Headed effort from inside the area by Curtis Weston misses to the right of the goal.
14:44 Cody McDonald takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.
14:16 Inswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman.
14:00 Cody McDonald takes a shot. Tommy Lee makes a save.
12:56 The assist for the goal came from Javan Vidal.
12:56 GOAL - Deane Smalley:Gillingham 0 - 1 Chesterfield Deane Smalley grabs a headed goal from close range. Gillingham 0-1 Chesterfield.
8:45 The assistant referee flags for offside against Adebayo Akinfenwa. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.
6:09 Shot by Curtis Weston from inside the box hits the post.
5:23 Shot from long distance by Danny Whitaker misses to the right of the target.
1:24 Corner taken by Danny Whitaker played to the near post, clearance by Curtis Weston.
0:44 Danny Jackman challenges Deane Smalley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Morris.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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