First Half
Gillingham kicked off the game and each both Rovers and Gills had chances early on but nothing came of them.
3 minutes in, and the Rovers first corner of the game, which produced a brilliantly powerful header from Wheater but it was cleared off of the line by a defender. A few minutes later, Blayney parryed a shot from Gary Mulligan at the near post, Graeme Lee there to clear away the rebound.
15 minutes into the half, Coppinger running down the right flank, and passed into the middle to Green who laid it back for McCormack, who hit a stunner of a shot against the corner of the framework and was then put out for a corner to the Rovers.
The Gills hit back by winning a corner on their right. It reached Cochrane on the left, put back into the Rovers area where Crofts headed high over the bar. A corner to the Rovers was followed by the visitors getting a free kick on their left. Black put it to the back post where it was headed back to Gary Mulligan but he hit it high over the bar from 12 yards.
27 minutes in, a touch of controversy and a goal for the Rovers. A good ball from the left into the Gillingham area created problems for their defence. Fortune-West augmented thiose problems by back-heeling the ball back into the centre of goal where WHEATER stabbed the ball just in, we had to studt the video to see if the ball crossed the line, and indeed it did!
Two minutes into added-on time and Price was brought down by Johnson in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
McCORMACK stepped up and, despite being kept waiting by the referee, slotted it to Brown's left as the keeper went to his right. The half time break followed and would be all the sweeter for the Rovers as they went in with a two goal lead.
Second Half
The second half started at a sedate pace, with no apparent urgency in the play. Three minutes in and Hope received the ball from a free kick and had a crack at goal but the ball went nearer the corner flag than the goal.
The Rovers gradually got their game going and were enjoying the majority of the possession without troubling Brown in the Gills goal. They settled for playing good football which produced a shot from 30 yards by McCormack that went well wide and then McDaid bore down on goal after a good move, his shot went to the far post area where Price stretched but put the ball into the side netting.
Gillingham produced the odd foray into the Rovers half which brought Blayney into action to punch away a cross from Black, who minutes later had a shot saved. McIndoe, following his introduction to the game, had an effort from 30 yards fumbled by Brown but there were no red and white shirts anywhere near.
With five minutes to go McIndoe produced a left foot curler that flashed just past the far post. Gillingham tried hard in the remaining time but caused few problems for the home defence.
As the end of the game drew near the Rovers emphasised their superiority by exerting pressure from a corner but Wheater shot over after Green's shot was blocked. Then, following a free kick on the left, Neil Roberts backheaded to the middle where Cox headed clear by skimming the top of the bar. Time ran down and the Rovers completed their third successive victory with a comprehensive two nil win