For the first time in almost a year, the Gillingham faithful filled out of Priestfield on Saturday afternoon with three points tucked under their arms as Neil Harris’ side gained their first win of the new League Two season.

After scoring just thirteen times in their twenty-three home games in League One last season, the new campaign at Priestfield was just eight minutes old when Scott Kashket stooped low to brilliantly head Will Wright’s free kick into the top corner of the Rochdale net.

It was the Gills first win in ten League games and just the third win at home base since Harris took over in February as well as the first Gillingham in Kent at quarter to five (or near enough) on a Saturday afternoon in two weeks short of a whole calendar year!

Whilst the sun was just as hot as the Gills last League fixture at Priestfield when they lost to Rotherham on the last day of last season to confirm their relegation, the mood was so different – where there had been doom and gloom there was clearly hope and genuine excitement for the months ahead!

With Dom Jeffries ruled out – Ben Reeves starting in his place – and Glenn Morris and Mikael Mandron making second home debuts, there were still five new stars wearing Gillingham blue for the first time and every one of them delivered a performance to really whet the parched pallets of the home crowd.

And the home crowd had to wait just eight minutes for the dream start. Jordan Green, who tormented the Rochdale defence all afternoon – and why not a single defender was cautioned for man handling and kicking the flying winger halfway round Priestfield can only be answered by referee Finnie – was flattened not for the first time.

Wright though arrowed the free kick into the box and Kashket stooped low to send a header into the top corner of Richard O’Donnell’s net.

There was a sense of relief around ME7 – relief that nearly evaporated when Morris was forced into a fine back-pedalling tip over to keep out Toumani Diagouraga’s header. That though was as close as Rochdale were to get as Elkan Baggott and Max Ehmer repelled the aerial threat of the visitors magnificently and with Wright and Ryan Law sweeping superbly round the sides, after so long despairing of the defending, the back line actually looked like a blue wall in front of Morris.

Olly Lee and Shaun Williams were running midfield and Lee sent O’Donnell to his knees with a low drive before Williams forced the Rochdale keeper into a brilliant save to his left. Williams’ chance was one of many created by the rampaging run of Green who really was a joy to watch as he tormented the visitors defence all afternoon.

After the break, the Gills chances kept coming – Wright was the first to be denied with a free kick whipped in from the right which O’Donnell did well to tip over. The industrious Reeves was next to be denied and again the Dale keeper pulled off a great save, before Mandron just couldn’t keep his header down from Wright’s cross.

Tempers did briefly threaten to match the temperature when Reeves and Abraham Odoh clashed and quite frankly how the Dale player stayed on the pitch after punching the Gills man in the back of the head, only referee Finnie will know.

But when you consider that the official deemed that clash the same “disgusting” offence worthy of a yellow card as Ehmer clearing the ball into the Rainham End perhaps explains the non-appearance of a red card!

There was even the first appearance back in Gillingham blue of Alex MacDonald – a late sub for Green who received a standing ovation as he left the pitch – was literally the cherry on the Gills cake as three points were secured. Yes, it is only one win, but after being starved of one for so long, you can forgive the cheers of celebration at the final whistle.

For Harris, attention already will be turning to Merseyside and next weekend’s trip to Tranmere Rovers, but before that he must prepare his paper thin squad for Tuesday night’s EFL Cup clash at AFC Wimbledon, just ten days after the two sides met on the opening day of the League Two season.

GILLINGHAM – Morris, Wright, Ehmer, Baggott, Law, Lee, Williams, Reeves, Green (MacDonald 83), Kashket (Alexander 93), Mandron (Walker 79).

Subs not used – Tutonda, Turner, Akehurst.

Goal: Kashket (9).

Booked: Ehmer (21), Wright (39), Law (88).

ROCHDALE – O’Donnell, John, Ebanks-Landell, Graham, Seriki, Brierley (Odoh 62), Diagouraga, Ball, White (Sinclair 68), Rodney, Henderson.

Subs not used – McNulty, Taylor, Nelson, Slicker, Scanlon.

Booked: Odoh (88).

REFEREE – Mr Will Finnie

Attendance: 4233