STEPHEN CLEMENCE endured an unhappy return to Gillingham as Barrow slipped to a frustrating 2-0 defeat.

The former Tottenham and Birmingham midfielder made the move to Holker Street after being sacked by the Gills at the end of last season.

It was a tasty top-of-the-table League Two clash, but the wasteful Bluebirds were found wanting. 

Goals from Jayden Clarke and Robbie McKenzie either side of the break did the damage as the hosts returned to the summit after briefly giving up top spot after Walsall’s win in the lunch-time kick-off.

Defeat saw the Bluebirds drop to third after their first defeat since the derby at Carlisle.

Clemence made two changes as Wyll Stanway returned in goal whilst Neo Eccleston replaced Kian Spence. 

Dean Campbell captained the club for the first time in Paul Farman’s absence. 

The Bluebirds saw an early chance go begging as Rory Feely’s long throw created problems in the hosts’ box, with Theo Vassell barely testing Glenn Morris.

That chance was a wake-up call for the Gills as they immediately threatened down the other end as Stanway pushed Jack Nolan’s low strike away from danger.

Mark Bonner’s side broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. 

McKenzie picked up the ball and drove into space before expertly picking out Clarke’s run as the 23-year-old bagged a third league goal in as many games.

The hosts could have been further ahead before half-time as they carved out more chances.

Nolan blasted wide on the half-hour mark before he produced a delicious delivery which George Lapslie squandered at the back post.

The Bluebirds were let off on the stroke of the break as Lapslie rattled the post with a decent strike from an acute angle.

Katia Kouyate replaced Feely at the interval for the visitors.

Ben Jackson, who had been a brilliant addition with his set-piece delivery since joining the club in the summer, produced another fine corner which was flicked wide by Vassell.

Emile Acquah was frustrated by Morris, who did well to keep him out, after Sam Foley nodded Eccleston’s throw into the towering centre forward’s path.

And moments later Campbell was the one to be agonisingly denied by inspired Morris from inside the box.

Ged Garner squandered a decent chance just before the hour as he missed the target after Jackson found him unmarked in the box.

Clemence’s charges were made to pay for their plethora of missed chances as the hosts doubled their advantage.

McKenzie made a late run to meet Nolan’s corner to head home at the back post in the 62nd minute.

Barrow continued to try and fight their way back into the game as Morris made a good fingertip save.

Bluebirds’ stopper Stanway kept the visitors in the contest with a good low save from Ethan Coleman’s header.

They huffed and puffed to no avail as they fell to a second successive defeat this week. 

Barrow: Stanway, Eccleston, Campbell (c), Garner (Worrall 86), Newby (Popov 64), Stokes, Foley, Acquah (Telford 64), Feely (Kouyate 46), Jackson, Vassell. Subs not used: Daniels, Tiensia