The Priestfield faithfully finally had a match winner to salute on Tuesday night as Gillingham edged past Doncaster Rovers in a vital game at the wrong end of League One. But just who was the hero?

As Danny Lloyd’s eightieth minute corner was headed goalward by Vadaine Oliver in front of the Rainham End, the ball squeezed past Rovers keeper Pontus Dahlberg and into the net.  As “Big Vee” turned away to celebrate, Stuart O’Keefe also took the plaudits as he had positioned himself in front of the visiting stopper but did he get a touch? Officially – well to begin with – yes as the goal was given to the midfielder, but Oliver was soon saluting his sixth of the season and easily the most important of the campaign… at least so far!

Steve Evans named the same side that had been edged out by Sunderland at the weekend but lost Mustapha Carayol midway through an opening half that saw very few chances at either end. 

Robbie McKenzie must be wondering what he has to do to get on the Gillingham scoresheet as for the third home game running, he had a header that was to be denied, this time by the frame of the goal. A long throw from Ryan Jackson was helped on for McKenzie, whose header beat Dahlberg only to smack to safety off the left post.

Meanwhile at the other end, Jamie Cumming was relieved to see Kyle Knoyle shoot into the side netting early on, whilst at the end of the half Jordy Hiwula missed the chance of the half as he beat Cumming to a long ball but couldn’t divert the ball into the unguarded Gillingham net.

With two sides struggling for consistency, the second period almost became a half of dare – dare either side lose! The visitors were forced further and further back as the Gills probed but didn’t ask many questions until late on.

Skipper Kyle Dempsey crossed deep and Oliver just couldn’t connect before with just eleven minutes left, the Gills top scorer did connect to Lloyd’s corner and either via O’Keefe’s back side or not, Gillingham had the lead which they held onto to secure the three vital points.

Well to be honest few of those who literally sucked the ball into the Doncaster net cared little – the fact is that the Gills had snapped their three game losing streak and stayed out of the division’s bottom four as they now face another tough test at the weekend – a trip to high flying Bolton Wanderers.

Gillingham line up: Cumming, Jackson, Ehmer (Adshead H/T), Bennett, McKenzie, Tucker, Dempsey, O’Keefe, Carayol (Akinde 25), Lloyd (Lee 93), Oliver.

Subs not used: Chapman, Kelman, Reeves, Sithole.

Goal: O’Keefe (79).

Booked: Oliver (41), O’Keefe (76).

Doncaster Rovers line up: Dahlberg, Knoyle (Barlow 91), Anderson, Williams (Olowu 79), Close, Rowe, Bostick, Hiwula, Dodoo, Cukur (Smith 76), Galbraith.

Subs not used: Jones, Horton, Hasani.

Booked: Knoyle (52), Williams (70).

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Attendance: 3713

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.