Two first half goals from Stuart O’Keefe and Olly Lee secured for Gillingham what Premier League Champions elect Liverpool couldn’t achieve in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.

They held onto a comfortable win against a Shrewsbury Town side and sent Steve Evans’ side into their own “mid-season” enforced break, ten SKYBet League One games unbeaten.

As this weekend is the Gills “home” game with defunct Bury and not a day off, it was a delightful side-footed effort from O’Keefe followed by Lee’s penalty after new signing John Akinde had been flattened – more on that later sealed the points.

That and home debuts for Akinde and Jordan Roberts, and 45 minutes of Priestfield playing time for Matty Willock, allowed Evans to do his own version of Klopp rotation meaning that Brandon Hanlan was left sitting behind the Gills boss until stoppage time.

On a bitterly cold night at home base, the home faithful thought their side had the early lead but Lee’s shot (from Akinde’s touch) found the side netting. Shrewsbury then had their best chance when an off balanced Kian Taylor’s thundering cross hit Shaun Whalley and his totally uncontrollable header powdered into the back of the Rainham End.

The hands of the home fans were soon warmed though as O’Keefe took a pass in his stride and majestically curled the ball into the bottom corner for the game’s opening goal, as the Gills settled down to finish the job and claim the points… Akinde then forced Shrews keeper Max O’Leary into a smart save before Ehmer headed wide when he’d have at least hoped to have tested O’Leary!

With Akinde’s next venture into the box he was crudely halted by a clumsy challenge from Taylor and Lee duly converted his sixth of the season from the spot.

Shrewsbury then for the second time in four days were two behind, but unlike in the Emirates FA Cup against Liverpool on Sunday, this time though there was no coming back.

The Gills continued totally dominating the game and in truth, Shrewsbury were very disappointing and offered very little expect to explore different ways of getting Akinde an “early bath” with the battle the new Gills striker and Aaron Pierre taking place in full gaze and bizarrely at the time “seemingly” with the “approval” of by referee Etheringham.

Time after time Akinde challenged and time after time there were bodies all over the floor with “yellow” confetti raining from the officials pocket, which was hardly often enough at times and totally bewildered manager Evans.

The most farcical occasion when O’Leary hared out of his box to challenge Akinde by the touch line, letting a large scream of pain upon making contact. The referee this time wasn’t interested and gave nothing except a throw in which O’Leary still tried to take separately as a free kick and a goal kick before eventually play restarted with a throw in – but no card for the keeper!

Battered and bruised Akinde, then came agonisingly short of an opening goal for the club as he stretched to head Pringle’s cross just too high before Jack Tucker almost scored a third with a header that deceived almost everyone as its’ lack of pace that it so very nearly sneaked in the far post.

Shrewsbury almost though had the final word as Jason Cummings had a shot cleared off the line by Ehmer in stoppage time – perhaps a true reflection of their respective side’s performances with the Gills committed to ten unbeaten and just two wins from the Plays Offs whilst Shrewsbury prepare to head to Anfield for their FA Cup glory showdown with Liverpool’s under 15s!

GILINGHAM – Bonham, Fuller, Ehmer, Tucker, Ogilvie, Jones, O’Keefe (Willock HT), Jones, Pringle, Lee, Roberts (Hanlan 89), Akinde (Charles-Cook 90+6)

Subs not used – Walsh, Mandron, Jakubiak.

Goals: O’Keefe (26), Lee (pen 40).

Booked: Akinde (62).

SHREWSBURY TOWN – O’Leary, Ebanks-Landrell, Pierre, Beckles, Sears, Walker, Laurent, Hart, Whalley. Udoh, Lang.

Subs not used – Murphy, Golbourne, Williams, Goss.

Booked: Hart (77), Walker (89), Pierre (94).

Referee – Mr Eltringham

Assistant referee’s – Mr Fuller & Mr Lugg

Fourth Official – Mr Waters

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.