Revenge is sweet especially when the promised land is all of a sudden within touching distance as well, and courtesy of an incredible night at Sincil Bank, both came true for Gillingham as they crushed Lincoln City 3-0 to move within two points of the League One Play Off places.

Just thirty-nine days ago, the dream looked all but over in front of the Sky Sports cameras as a rampant Lincoln cruised into the division’s promotion places with a three-nil win at Priestfield. Since then, Steve Evans’ side have taken nineteen points from nine games – lost just one of their last six winning four of their last five scoring three times on each occasion to move back into the pack chasing that cherished top six place.

Vadaine Oliver has certainly played his part, and his fifteenth goal of the season – from Jordan Graham’s dinked far post cross – gave the Gills a tenth minute lead.

It was a lead that was doubled ten minutes later when skipper Kyle Dempsey continued his terrific run of form as he raced onto John Akinde’s delightful through ball to drill home from the edge of the box.

Graham himself provided the finishing touches to arguably The Gills best away win of the season as he was floored in the box late on before picking himself up to drill home his tenth goal of the season to seal the win three minutes from time to continue the club’s amazing record at Sincil Bank – it’s now just one defeat in their last seven visits to Lincoln!

The Gills boss changed his side for the first time in five games – and with-it formation too – with Akinde coming into the starting side against his former club to partner Oliver up front, and Alex MacDonald came into the midfield – Olly Lee and Tom O’Connor dropping to the bench.

Lincoln could have been in front early on as Adam Jackson and Brennan Johnson went close, but it was The Gills who scored the opening goal on ten minutes. Oliver was on hand to head home Graham’s cross after MacDonald had kept the pressure on as the home side failed to deal with a Ryan Jackson long throw.

The lead was doubled on twenty minutes with Oliver and Akinde combining brilliantly as Akinde magnificently feeding through for Dempsey to drive the ball beyond Alex Palmer and into the bottom corner.

Two goals to the good and it was so very nearly three just past the half hour as the home side were indebted to Palmer for keeping the score at “just” 2-0. The home keeper magnificently denying Akinde and then Ryan Jackson in quick succession before MacDonald fired over.

Right back Adetayo Edun thought he’d put the home side back in the game with a rasping left footed drive on the hour. But he reckoned without Jack Bonham who pulled off an outstanding save to tip the ball onto the bar.

Regan Poole then had an effort wide for the home side as they upped the pressure on the Gills back line, but time and again, Lincoln’s path to Bonham’s goal was denied with Robbie Cundy and Jack Tucker highlighting just how good their partnership at the heart of the defence has come in such a short time.

When Cohen Brammall floored Graham in the box, referee Joyce had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Graham duly despatched the penalty beyond Palmer’s despairing dive and into the net to top off a truly memorable night for Evans and his players.

Many wrote their Play Off hopes off at the turn of the year. But now, going into the final ten games of the season, incredibly the promised land of the post season is just two points away.

With thirty points still to play for in the strangest season in history, just how many points could Steve Evans’ side possibly need to make what seemed an impossible dream just a few short weeks ago become a truly remarkable reality just a few short weeks ago!

LINCOLN CITY – Palmer, Edun, Jackson, Montsma, Poole, Rogers, Bridcutt (Bramall 65), McGrandles, Johnson, Morton, Hopper (Scully 82).

Subs not used – Long, Archibald, Eyoma, Howarth, Jones.

Booked: Johnson (69), Edun (72).

GILLINGHAM: Bonham, Jackson, Cundy, Tucker, Ogilvie, O’Keefe, Dempsey, Graham (O’Connor 91), MacDonald (McKenzie 89), Akinde (Johnson 94), Oliver (Lee 94).

Subs not used – Bastien, Woods.

Goals: Oliver (10), Dempsey (20), Graham (pen 87).

Booked: O’Keefe (49), Tucker (63), Akinde (76).

REFEREE – Mr Ross Joyce

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.