The Gills were totally outclassed by an excellent Bolton side in front of the Sky cameras this evening, a Bolton side that will surely be promoted back to the Championship at the end of the season.

A Gary Madine brace, an excellent finish from Josh Vela and a goal of the month contender from Sammy Ameobi were enough for Bolton to cruise to victory.

With just a few minutes on the clock Gary Madine took the ball down from a Ben Alnwick clearance, before hitting a shot from distance well wide, for the first shot of the match.

Bradley Dack was fouled just a minute later, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas chipped the free-kick into the area and towards Cody McDonald, but the Gills forward couldn’t get on the end of the cross.

Max Ehmer was looking for his 6^th goal of the season in the ninth minute, but he saw his shot block for a corner. A Nouble shot was blocked a minute later, and it fell to Emmanuel-Thomas who fired way over the bar from the edge of the Bolton area.

Bolton nearly took the lead in the 12^th minute, when Zach Clough chested the ball down to Josh Vela, who sent his shot towards the top corner, but there was Ehmer at the other end to get in an all-important deflection to send it out for a corner.

A minute later and they were ahead, Clough picked the ball up put wide, jinked inside and played a ball out wide, the cross came into the box from Vela, and there was Madine on the dive to head past Nelson to make it 1-0. It wasn’t the way that Nelson wanted to start his 200^th start for the Gills.

The home side could and should have been in front in the 18^th minute when a ball across the box was met with Vela, who had time but hit the shot first time, and saw it flash just wide of Nelson’s left hand upright.

Nelson was off his line in the 25^th minute to deny a second goal for Bolton Sammy Ameobi, sent Clough away and with just Nelson to beat, the Gills keeper was off his line to narrow the angle and make an important save.

The Gills first effort on target came in the 26^th minute when McDonald played in Frank Nouble, who saw his shot straight at Ben Alnwick, which was an easy save for the Bolton shot stopper.

It was 2-0 just a minute again as Clough tore the Gills defence apart with a great one-two with Vela, that saw Clough with a  back heel back to Vela who buried his shot under Nelson.

With five minutes to go before half time, Ameobi produced an excellent save from Nelson, when his first time volley was hit with some venom, but Nelson was down low to save well, and keep the score to 2-0.

On the stroke of half time Nouble teed up Emmanuel-Thomas from distance, but his shot was easily gathered by Alnwick.

Half Time 2-0

The Gills certainly came out in the second half and tried to create more and press the Bolton team, and the first chance of the half fell the visitor’s way.

An excellent cross from Nouble in the 52^nd minute was met by a diving header from Jake Hessenthaler, which beat both Alnwick and the far post.

McDonald was next to test Alnwick for the Gills, he was the first to meet Hessenthaler’s cross but he headed straight at the keeper.

In the 63^rd minute Jay Spearing tested Nelson, who saved well with a ball that was moving, he parried it out into the path of Madine, who fired the rebound wide.

A foul by Captain Josh Wright lead to the Bolton third, Spearing swung in a peach of a free-kick and Madine rose highest to head in his second of the night, and fifth of the season.

On 70 minutes it was Nelson to the rescue as he came flying off his line to save well from substitute Chris Taylor, who had only been on the pitch for a minute.

Hessenthaler was once again testing Alnwick in the 72^nd minute, as McDonald fed back to Emmanuel-Thomas, who found Hess, but his shot was well saved.

The Bolton fourth goal in the 80^th minute, was something special and a goal of the month contender. Ameobi cut inside from the wing, steps inside and rifles a shot into the top corner past Nelson to make it 4-0.

Just before the end of the game and Bolton could have had a penalty when Konchesky tugged Anderson’s shirt in the area, he went down but the referee waved away the appeals.

One final opportunity for the Gills in injury time saw a long throw for Ryan Jackson, but his throw into the area, was cleared away with ease by the Bolton back line.

All in all it was not a good night for the Gills as they were outplayed by a good looking Bolton side, the Gills are back in action at home to Milton Keynes on Saturday afternoon.

Full time 4-0

Bolton Wanderers line up: Alnwick, Beevers, Vela (Anderson 88), Spearing ©, Clough (C Taylor 68), Madine, Taylor, Ameobi (Henry 83), Wilson, Wheater, Thorpe.

Subs not used: Turner, Moxey, Proctor, Osede.

Goals: Madine (14, 65), Vela (28), Ameobi (80)

Gillingham line up: Nelson, Ehmer, Wagstaff, Hessenthaler, McDonald, Konchesky, Cargill, Dack (Byrne 88), Wright ©, Nouble (Jackson 60), Emmanuel-Thomas (Donnelly 83).

Subs not used: Hadler, Oshilaja, Cundle, Stevenson.

Booked: Wright (64).

Referee: Mr Scott Duncan

Attendance: 13,861 (223 Gills)