Gillingham’s impressive form continued on Saturday with a win over Bristol Rovers at Priestfield.
James Brophy fired home brilliantly from the edge of the box to put Gillingham in front and substitute Sheldon Kendall added a late double.
Action between Gillingham and Bristol Rovers on Saturday Picture: Stuart Watson
The Gills are now six unbeaten in League Two and have won their last three.
Gillingham striker Ronan Hale made the team after shrugging off a knock he picked up while scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win over Tranmere the previous week.
The Gills weren’t able to name an unchanged team, however, as they had left wing-back Conor McManus missing, presumed injured.
Brophy took over McManus’ position in as Lamin Sillah was named to start in attack.
Ainsworth’s side were looking to build on that home win over Tranmere and a five-game unbeaten sequence against a Rovers side managed by former Gillingham boss Steve Evans.
Rovers kicked off the match sitting third in the table and had the best of the early opportunities.
Bobby Kamwa and Shaq Forde put chances wide for Bristol Rovers while Sillah was unable to get a shot away after Waldock looked to pick him out in the box.
The best moment of the half came from Hale, meeting a Waldock cross on the volley, but visiting keeper Brad Young saved at his near post with his feet.
Sillah put a chance wide for the Gills and Robbie McKenzie headed over.
Hale’s effort had been the only one on target in the opening half in a game that wasn’t being helped by the blustery conditions at ME7.
Gillingham started the second half confidently, and McKenzie shot wide before the deadlock was broken in the 55th minute.
Brophy had scored two stunning goals in a 4-1 win at Rochdale a fortnight earlier, and added another fine effort to the catalogue with the opener against Rovers, picking a gap between players from the edge of the box and curling the ball home.
Rovers looked to respond, with Jack Aitchison shooting wide and Ben Purrington putting an effort into the arms of the Gills keeper.
Ollie Wright was well placed again to save from Forde as he tried his luck from the edge of the area.
The Gills sealed the points on 84 minutes when Kendall volleyed in a cross from Freeman, only a minute after being introduced to the action and with his first touch of the game.
Kendall scored again on 88 minutes. Fellow substitute Will Goodwin sent in a low cross, keeper Young blocked the initial effort from Kendall but the ball ran loose for a simple close-range finish.
Goodwin nearly made it 4-0 at the death following a mistake from defender Ciaran Kelly but the shot was deflected wide.
Gillingham: Wright, Dobbs, Smith, Beckles, Freeman, Brophy, McKenzie, King (Luxton 83mins), Waldock (Kendall 83mins), Hale (McCleary 62mins), Sillah (Goodwin 75mins). Subs not used: Holtam, Daley, Webster.
Bristol Rovers: Young, James, Balmer, Mola, Forde (Russell-Denny 72mins), Kamwa (Cavegn 63mins), Aitchison, Purrington, Kelly, Harrison (Quigley 79mins), Smallwood. Subs not used: Binns, Sparkes, Kilgour, Sanyaolu.
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill
Attendance: 5947 (634 away)