After scoring just seven goals in 2070 League Two minutes in the first half of the season, Gillingham finally rewarded the Priestfield faithful with two goals inside just 20 which sealed Neil Harris’ side’s biggest win of this troubled season.

Defeat extended Hartlepool United’s dreadful record at Priestfield to now a solitary win in nineteen visits whilst the double either side of half time from Tom Nichols and Dom Jeffries secured Gillingham’s first win in thirteen League games.

Defeat extended Hartlepool United’s dreadful record at Priestfield to now a solitary win in nineteen visits whilst the double either side of half time from Tom Nichols and Dom Jeffries secured Gillingham’s first win in thirteen League games.

All four January signings started the game with three debutants and Glenn Morris’ formal return as a Gill in goal as news broke of signing number five – George Lapslie following Oli Hawkins from Mansfield Town to Kent.

Nichols made a lively start to his Gillingham career and was causing the United defence problems, yet it was another new boy Tim Dieng who had the clearest early chance but couldn’t convert Alex MacDonald’s free-kick and his header cleared the bar.

Morris then showed why Harris was so keen on his return to Priestfield as he made a really fine save to deny Josh Umerah before Hawkins fired over at the other end after battling through.

The goal that the Rainham End had been waiting since October 22nd (the last time the Gills scored a League goal at Priestfield) finally came five minutes from half time with Nichols heavily involved. It was the new striker who was flattened and from MacDonald’s resulting set piece, the former Crawley striker did brilliantly to get behind the defence to prod the ball over the line sparking wild scenes of celebration – and probably relief too!

The visitors finally got into the game after the break but a two-minute spell around the hour was to completely turn the game the Gills’ way. Hartlepool did get the ball in the net from Umerah’s header – after Mark Shelton’s shot was deflected – but the flag futtered in the Priestfield cold January breeze.

Within sixty seconds, the home side’s lead was doubled when Nichols turned provider for the onrushing Jefferies who did magnificently to angle his body brilliantly to curl gloriously into the bottom corner.

Umerah was having one of those days and he must have finally given up when he finally got the ball past Morris only to see his header come back off the inside of the post to a relieved Gills keeper, who kept his clean sheet intact for a first League one since October 1st when Sutton were beaten 1-0.

The result still sees the Gills rooted to the bottom of the Football League but now within just three points… these three points will hopefully be just the start of the revival – a revival that really could start to gather momentum next weekend with a trip to Essex to play the Colchester United side who won 1-0 at Priestfield on Boxing Day when Harris’ side were booed off the pitch.

That was just nineteen days ago – it seems like nineteen years and where there was despair in the Priestfield seats, there is now genuine hope and dare we say even expectation…

GILLINGHAM – Morris, McKenzie, Ehmer, Wright, Tutonda, Williams, MacDonald (Adelakun 80), Dieng, Jefferies (Alexander 87), Nichols (Kashket 79), Hawkins.

Subs not used – Turner, Baggott, O’Keefe, Gbode.

Goals: Nichols (39), Jefferies (59).

Booked: Dieng (72).

HARTLEPOOL UNITED – Killip, Tumilty (Shelton H/T), Menayese, Ferguson, Dodds, Dolan, Syla, Featherstone, Grey (McDonald 81), Umerah, Hamilton (Hastie H/T).

Subs not used – Boyes, Niang, Missilou.

Booked: Dolan (19), Tumilty (38).

REFEREE – Mr Robert Lewis

Attendance: 6003

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.