Gillingham retained top spot in League Two with a convincing victory against struggling Bristol Rovers.

Gills, who scored three of their goals in the first half, took the lead through Danny Kedwell's penalty, after he was fouled in the box by Tom Parkes.

The striker then made it 2-0 with a close-range header before Charlie Lee nodded in a third before the break.

Chris Whelpdale added a fourth for Gills late on, heading Myles Weston's cross past Rovers keeper Sam Walker.

Pirates striker Matt Harrold had been forced off in the first half after a clash with Gills keeper Stuart Nelson.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Gillingham manager Martin Allen told BBC Radio Kent:

"We played well, such a fantastic start, the players applied themselves early on and took the chances when they came.

"In a funny way it was difficult, when you go ahead early you can get complacent and you can ease off.

"It was good to get a clean sheet, four goals, so good news.

"It's a good overall atmosphere, the players have respect for each other, I just do the best I can do."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Gillingham

  • 01 Nelson
  • 02 Fish
  • 03 Martin
  • 15 Davies
  • 26 Barrett
  • 04 Payne
  • 08 Lee
  • 14 Allen
  • 28 Wright Booked (Whelpdale - 71' )
  • 09 Kedwell (Strevens - 57' )
  • 20 Burton (Weston - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Forecast
  • 06 Flanagan
  • 12 Frampton
  • 07 Whelpdale
  • 16 Montrose
  • 24 Weston
  • 10 Strevens

Bristol Rovers

  • 28 Walker
  • 02 Smith
  • 03 Paterson (Norburn - 45' )
  • 06 Parks Booked
  • 19 Virgo
  • 08 Gill (Lund - 66' )
  • 10 Richard
  • 14 Brown
  • 21 Brown
  • 07 Clarkson Booked
  • 09 Harrold (Broghammer - 34' )

Substitutes

  • 20 Gough
  • 11 Broghammer
  • 15 Norburn
  • 24 Clarke
  • 25 Clucas
  • 26 Lund
  • 16 Anyinsah
Ref: Sutton
Att: 4,768

Match Stats

Shots

14 7

On target

7 4

Corners

6 6

Fouls

13 10

Live Text Commentary

93:16 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:58

Centre by Oliver Norburn, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

90:00 +2:48

The referee blows for offside. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:32

Ben Strevens takes a shot. Tom Parkes gets a block in.

90:00 +2:18

Myles Weston takes a shot. Sam Walker gets a block in.

90:00 +1:44

Wayne Brown has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.

90:00 +1:23

Outswinging corner taken by Lee Brown from the left by-line, clearance made by Charlie Lee.

89:15

Oliver Norburn takes a shot from 30 yards. Save by Stuart Nelson.

87:05

The ball is delivered by Wayne Brown, clearance by Callum Davies. Outswinging corner taken by Myles Weston, save by Sam Walker.

86:41

Unfair challenge on Oliver Norburn by Ben Strevens results in a free kick. Oliver Norburn takes the direct free kick.

85:25

The ball is crossed by Matt Fish.

83:12

Wayne Brown fouled by Charlie Lee, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Oliver Norburn from right wing, blocked by Joe Martin.

81:10

Assist on the goal came from Myles Weston.

81:10 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Whelpdale - Gillingham 4 - 0 Bristol R Chris Whelpdale scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Gillingham 4-0 Bristol Rovers.

81:10

A cross is delivered by Myles Weston,

79:25

Effort on goal by Myles Weston from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

77:14

The ball is delivered by Lee Brown, clearance by Jack Payne.

76:55

Centre by Myles Weston, save by Sam Walker.

73:57

The assistant referee signals for offside against Myles Weston. Free kick taken by Adam Virgo.

73:21

Fabian Broghammer takes a shot. Blocked by Matt Fish.

71:24

Foul by Matthew Lund on Jack Payne, free kick awarded. Charlie Allen takes the free kick.

70:52

Unfair challenge on Adam Virgo by Ben Strevens results in a free kick. Sam Walker takes the direct free kick.

70:22 Substitution

Substitution Chris Whelpdale comes on in place of David Wright.

69:46

Lee Brown takes the inswinging corner, Header from close in by Adam Virgo misses to the left of the target.

69:21

The ball is swung over by Eliot Richards, save by Stuart Nelson.

68:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Clarkson by Callum Davies. Oliver Norburn takes the free kick.

68:29

Effort from inside the area by Myles Weston misses to the left of the goal.

67:38 Booking

Booking David Wright receives a caution.

67:29

Adam Barrett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Clarkson. Oliver Norburn takes the direct free kick.

67:07

Jack Payne takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Virgo.

65:14

Free kick taken by Matt Fish.

65:14 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Lund comes on in place of Matt Gill.

65:14

Fabian Broghammer is caught offside.

64:49

Lee Brown produces a cross, save by Stuart Nelson.

64:12

Oliver Norburn takes a shot. Stuart Nelson makes a save.

62:51

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Charlie Allen.

60:47

Eliot Richards produces a cross, blocked by Adam Barrett. Myles Weston takes a shot. Save made by Sam Walker.

58:36

Foul by Joe Martin on Matt Gill, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Oliver Norburn.

57:45

Foul by Adam Barrett on David Clarkson, free kick awarded. Adam Virgo takes the free kick.

55:56 Substitution

Substitution Ben Strevens comes on in place of Danny Kedwell.

55:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Parkes on Charlie Lee. Charlie Lee takes the free kick. Danny Kedwell produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

53:55

Matt Fish crosses the ball, Charlie Lee produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

53:02

Shot from a long way out by Jack Payne goes wide of the left-hand upright.

52:08

Joe Martin concedes a free kick for a foul on Wayne Brown. Oliver Norburn takes the free kick.

51:28

Wayne Brown has an effort at goal from 30 yards. Stuart Nelson makes a save.

48:23

The ball is swung over by David Clarkson. The referee gives a free kick against Matt Gill for handball. Stuart Nelson takes the direct free kick.

46:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Gill by Charlie Allen. David Clarkson takes the direct free kick.

46:11

Myles Weston takes the outswinging corner, David Clarkson makes a clearance.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Deon Burton goes off and Myles Weston comes on.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Deon Burton goes off and Tommy Forecast comes on.

45:00 +2:06 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Deon Burton on Adam Virgo. Direct free kick taken by Sam Walker.

45:00 Substitution

Substitution Oliver Norburn joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jim Paterson.

44:07

Assist on the goal came from Charlie Allen.

44:07 Goal scored

Goal - Charlie Lee - Gillingham 3 - 0 Bristol R Charlie Lee scores a headed goal from close range. Gillingham 3-0 Bristol Rovers.

43:44

Corner taken right-footed by Charlie Allen,

43:18

Joe Martin takes a shot. Save by Sam Walker.

42:17

A cross is delivered by Michael Smith, Matt Fish makes a clearance. Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Smith on Charlie Lee. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

40:31

Free kick taken by Charlie Allen.

40:31 Booking

Booking Booking for David Clarkson.

40:27

Unfair challenge on Charlie Lee by David Clarkson results in a free kick.

39:23

Corner taken by Charlie Allen from the right by-line.

37:06

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matt Gill from the left by-line, clearance made by Adam Barrett.

34:37

Deon Burton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Adam Virgo restarts play with the free kick.

33:34 Substitution

Substitution Matt Harrold goes off and Fabian Broghammer comes on.

30:17

Matt Gill concedes a free kick for a foul on Charlie Lee. Strike comes in from Deon Burton from the free kick, Danny Kedwell gets a block in. Shot by Charlie Allen from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

28:56

Danny Kedwell is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

25:49

Handball decision goes against Deon Burton. Adam Virgo restarts play with the free kick.

24:49

Joe Martin fouled by Matt Harrold, the ref awards a free kick. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

21:18

David Clarkson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

21:05

Unfair challenge on Michael Smith by Charlie Lee results in a free kick. Sam Walker takes the direct free kick.

20:06

Effort on goal by Lee Brown from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

19:33

Corner taken right-footed by Matt Gill.

17:09

The ball is crossed by Matt Fish, Sam Walker manages to make a clearance.

15:54

Corner taken right-footed by Charlie Allen.

15:32

Unfair challenge on Charlie Allen by Matt Harrold results in a free kick. Matt Fish takes the free kick.

14:07

The assist for the goal came from Charlie Lee.

14:07 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Kedwell - Gillingham 2 - 0 Bristol R Danny Kedwell finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Gillingham 2-0 Bristol Rovers.

12:07

Michael Smith crosses the ball, clearance made by Callum Davies. Corner from the right by-line taken by Lee Brown, Joe Martin manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Matt Gill from the left by-line, Unfair challenge on Callum Davies by Eliot Richards results in a free kick. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

7:51

Free kick awarded for a foul by Charlie Lee on Michael Smith. Lee Brown crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

4:54 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Kedwell - Gillingham 1 - 0 Bristol R Power penalty scored by Danny Kedwell. Gillingham 1-0 Bristol Rovers.

3:57 Booking

Booking Tom Parkes receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

3:43

Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Kedwell by Tom Parkes.

2:39

Danny Kedwell fouled by Wayne Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jack Payne.

1:52

Foul by Danny Kedwell on Tom Parkes, free kick awarded. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

0:41

The ball is crossed by Charlie Lee.

0:41

Charlie Lee produces a cross.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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