Manager Gareth Ainsworth returned to his old club and watched the Gills claim a much-needed win thanks to a late goal.

Harry Waldock opened the scoring in the third minute with his first goal in the Football League and although George Lloyd levelled for Shrewsbury from the penalty spot a late goal from Andy Smith won it for Gillingham.

Manager Gareth Ainsworth - in charge of Shrewsbury for 22 games before leaving for Gillingham - insisted prior to this game that there was no need to panic over recent results.

His Gills team came into the game with just one win in six and a heavy home loss to Grimsby the week before.

Gillingham were seeking their first win in a decade away at Shrewsbury.

Four changes were made to the starting XI as youngsters Logan Dobbs and Waldock returned. Both had been unused subs the week before.

Lamin Sillah was back in attack following a wrist injury and Ethan Coleman replaced Armani Little in midfield.

Waldock and James Brophy were playing in support of strikers Sillah and Ronan Hale.

Shrewsbury striker George Lloyd recovered from a neck injury to play against a team he scored twice against on their last visit. He’d been stretchered off the week before and needed hospital treatment.

The game was just three minutes old when Waldock marked his return to the team with his first Gills goal, tapping home from close range from Conor McManus’ low cross after he had got in beyond the defence from Sillah’s delicate pass.

Shrewsbury responded by having plenty of possession and several set-piece opportunities that they were unable to capitalise on.

Sam Stubbs had a header saved by Gills keeper Ollie Wright after Josh Ruffels had nodded a good chance wide.

Despite all of the ball that Shrewsbury had, the Gills almost added a second late in the half when James Brophy played in Hale and the angled shot was brilliatly saved one-handed by Will Brook.

It was the second time Brook had denied Hale after an earlier volley that he pushed wide.

Shrewsbury started the second half positively and Ruffels had an early header saved while Hale had to make a well-timed challenge in the Gills box to deny Tom Sang from a shooting opportunity.

The home side were level on 59 minutes and the equaliser came from the penalty spot.

Tom Sang was caught from behind by Brophy and referee Neil Hair awarded the spot-kick which Lloyd converted.

Gillingham almost hit back immediately but another top save from Brook denied McManus.

Goalkeeper Ollie Wright was well placed to keep out a header from Shrewsbury’s dangerous Kian McMahon-Brown with 20 minutes left.

Tom Eaves and Bradley Dack played upfront for the Gills in the closing stages of a game that remained in the balance.

It was from a deep Dack cross that Gillingham went back ahead, the ball hitting the crossbar and dropping for Smith to slot home.

The Gills did pick up an injury in the buildup with Nick Freeman taking a whack as he played the ball forward.

McManus headed over for the Gills from an Armani Little cross with five minutes left.

Eight minutes were added and deep into stoppage-time Stubbs blasted a shot narrowly wide for the hosts.

Sang’s shot was deflected wide on 98 minutes, and the home keeper went up for the subsequent corner, but the Gills hung on for maximum points.

Gillingham: Wright, Freeman (McCleary 82mins), McManus, Smith, Beckles, Dobbs, Coleman (Dack 73mins), Waldock, Brophy, Hale (Little 73mins), Sillah (Eaves 65mins). Subs not used: Luthra, Kendall, Daley.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Hoole (Jude-Boyd 84mins), Ruffles (Thompson-McKenzie 90mins), Boyle, Stubbs, Lloyd (Golding 63mins), Sang, Berkoe (Sousa 90mins), Davison (Gbode 84mins), McMahon-Brown, Gray. Subs not used: Gregory, Lee.

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 5,255 (345 away)