Plymouth Argyle recorded their second League One win of the season, beating Gillingham 3-1 at Home Park, to move off the basement.

Argyle boss Derek Adams made five changes to the side which twice conceded a lead to lose 3-2 at home to Burton on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Steve Lovell made three changes to the side that drew 3-3 at Doncaster Rovers at the weekend with Conor Wilkinson, Elliott List and Josh Rees coming in for Josh Parker, Bradley Stevenson and Alex Lacey.

However it was Plymouth front man Freddie Ladapo – who scored both Argyle goals on Saturday – who was again the toast of home fans.

Ladapo fired home in the 22nd minute following a flowing move down the left and good work from playmaker Graham Carey and the recalled Joel Grant.

Ladapo doubled his tally for a second game when he turned Carey’s cross past Tomas Holy with a brilliantly flighted 34th-minute header.

Substitute Ruben Lameiras swapped passes with Ladapo before slotting in a 73rd-minute third for the hosts.

Gillingham pulled a goal back when full-back Luke O’Neil fired home from 20 yards three minutes later.

Holy made a superb save to keep out Carey’s goal-bound strike, with Ladapo hovering and hoping to complete his hat-trick.

The defeat sees Steve Lovell’s side go into Saturday’s game against Bradford City at Priestfield sitting 20th in League One in what must now be a must win game.

 

Plymouth Argyle line up: Macey, Moore, C Grant, Songo’o, Canavan, Sarcevic, Fox (O’Keefe 81), Ness, Carey (Lameiras 71), J Grant, Ladapo (Jephcott 93).

Subs not used: Wylde, Letheren, Smith-Brown, P Grant.

Goals: Ladapo (22), (34), Lameiras (73).

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Fuller, Ehmer, Zakuani, Byrne, Reilly (Garmston H/T), Rees (Bingham 78), List, Eaves, Wilkinson (Nasseri 69).

Subs not used: Hadler, Lacey, Parker, Ogilvie.

Goal: O’Neill (76).

Booked: Ehmer (18), Bingham (89), List (93).

Referee: Mr Darren England

Attendance: 8,754 (254 Gills)

Photo supplied by Kent Pro Images.