Gillingham started their Christmas campaign in style with three points at Fleetwood on Friday night.

Fleetwood have now won just one of their last 12 League One games and the visitors knocked the wind out of Town’s sails in just the second minute.

Scott Wagstaff fizzed the ball in from the right to the feet of Josh Parker on the edge of the six-yard box and he spun past Baily Cargill with incredible ease to blast the ball past Alex Cairns.

The goalkeeper had got two hands to the ball but could not stop it sneaking in at his near post and he was to concede again in the 15th minute as Luke O’Neill’s curling effort flew through a crowd of bodies to creep into the corner.

There were boos from the home faithful at the break as the fog swept in from the sea to engulf Highbury but it could not mask Town’s defensive fragility.

Uwe Rosler’s men could not muster a shot on target in the second half and it was the Gills who looked more potent in the final third.

They did find the net once again as Tom Eaves nodded home unmarked though Fleetwood were indebted to the offside flag as that effort was ruled out.

Gillingham climb to 17th in League One, sitting five points above the relegation places and next up for Steve Lovell’s side is Oxford United at Priestfield on Boxing Day.

 

Fleetwood line up: Cairns, Coyle, Eastham, Bolger (Pond, 70), Cargill (Sowerby H/T), Bell, Dempsey, Glendon, O’Neill (Hunter H/T), Hiwula, Cole.

Subs not used: Neal, Burns, Maguire, Schwabl.

Booked: Cargill (26).

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Ehmer, Zakuani, Wagstaff ( Hessenthaler 39) Eaves (Wilkinson 81), Martin, Ogilvie, Parker, Clare, Byrne.

Subs not used: Arnold, Lacey, Nugent, List, Cundle.

Goals: Parker (2), O’Neill (15).

Referee: Mr David Webb

Attendance: 2088 (85 Gills)