Gillingham continued their rich vein of form with a comfortable victory over high-flying Port Vale in League Two.
The Gills raced into a first-minute lead, Cody McDonald firing into the bottom corner after John Nutter's pass.
McDonald slotted home a second after excellent work by Barry Fuller and Adebayo Akinfenwa before the latter thumped home a third from 12 yards.
Vale offered very little, with long-range efforts from Doug Loft and Robert Taylor the closest they came.
It was a desperately disappointing attacking performance by the visitors, who would have gone top with a win.
Gillingham were solid throughout and their fourth successive victory leaves the Kent club just three points outside the play-offs.
Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "We were apprehensive after the break we had, but we got off to the best possible start, we might even have scored too early.
"Port Vale did have quite a bit of the ball, but we made ourselves difficult to play against, it was a real collective performance.
"We've turned the corner now. We've come under fire, and quite rightly at times, because we haven't achieved what we should have."
Port Vale boss Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke: "It was a poor performance from start to finish. We got off to the worst possible start and never recovered from that.
"We didn't get to grips with their front two, and I think they were the key today they caused us all sorts of problems.
"I think it's fair to say that I've had a chat with Sheffield United and that situation will be resolved within the next 24 to 48 hours one way or another because I don't want it hanging on any longer than that."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Gillingham
3-0
Port Vale
FT
(HT 2-0)
McDonald 1
McDonald 37
Akinfenwa 60
Gillingham
01 Julian
03 Nutter
15 Lawrence
16 Gowling
02 Fuller
04 Weston (Bentley 62)
07 Maher yellow card
17 Spiller
32 Martin (Barcham 54)
10 McDonald
27 Akinfenwa (Payne 82)
Substitutes
26 Cronin,
05 King,
18 Jackman,
08 Bentley,
14 Rooney,
11 Barcham,
23 Payne
Port Vale
12 Tomlinson
02 Yates
05 McCombe
06 Owen
15 Collins
03 Taylor yellow card (Speight 59)
04 Griffith
07 Loft
22 Roberts (Fraser 64)
09 M Richards
11 J Richards (Dodds 60)
Substitutes
24 Johnson,
10 Fraser,
14 Taylor,
16 Haldane,
17 Rigg,
08 Dodds,
23 Speight
Ref: GrahamAtt: 5,364
GILLINGHAM
PORT VALE
Possession
Gillingham51%
Port Vale49%
Attempts on target
Gillingham4
Port Vale1
Attempts off target
Gillingham7
Port Vale7
Corners
Gillingham3
Port Vale2
Fouls
Gillingham16
Port Vale6
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:02 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+3:51 Mark Bentley concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Dodds. The ball is sent over by Doug Loft, Tommy Fraser has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
90:00+2:55 Marc Richards challenges Josh Gowling unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Barry Fuller.
90:00+2:27 The referee gives a free kick against Matthew Lawrence for handball. Marc Richards takes the direct free kick.
88:30 Louis Dodds has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
86:29 Corner taken by Danny Spiller from the right by-line to the near post, Stefan Payne produces a right-footed shot from close in that clears the bar.
85:38 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tommy Fraser, Mark Bentley makes a clearance.
84:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Barcham by Jake Speight. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
81:42 Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Stefan Payne coming on for Adebayo Akinfenwa.
78:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Doug Loft by Matthew Lawrence. Direct free kick taken by Doug Loft.
75:30 Adam Yates concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Barcham. John Nutter takes the free kick.
71:34 Corner from the left by-line taken by Danny Spiller, save made by Stuart Tomlinson.
69:56 Close range shot by Andy Barcham misses to the left of the goal.
67:58 Jake Speight is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Alan Julian.
63:32 Adebayo Akinfenwa has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
63:32 Substitution Tommy Fraser comes on in place of Gary Roberts.
61:47 Unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by Doug Loft results in a free kick. Kevin Maher takes the free kick.
61:47 Substitution Mark Bentley comes on in place of Curtis Weston.
59:49 GOAL - Adebayo Akinfenwa:Gillingham 3 - 0 Port Vale Goal scored by Adebayo Akinfenwa from deep inside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Gillingham 3-0 Port Vale.
58:37 Substitution Justin Richards goes off and Louis Dodds comes on.
58:37 Substitution Jake Speight comes on in place of Robert Taylor.
53:50 Substitution Andy Barcham replaces Joe Martin.
52:09 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Danny Spiller, clearance by Lee Collins.
48:56 Cody McDonald produces a drilled shot from just outside the penalty area that bounces off the post. Close range shot by Adebayo Akinfenwa misses to the left of the target.
46:16 Marc Richards produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+2:59 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+0:11 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on John McCombe. Stuart Tomlinson restarts play with the free kick.
44:22 Danny Spiller concedes a free kick for a foul on Justin Richards. Stuart Tomlinson takes the direct free kick.
42:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Taylor by Kevin Maher. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary Roberts.
42:19 Booking Kevin Maher is booked.
41:44 Adebayo Akinfenwa concedes a free kick for a foul on John McCombe. Stuart Tomlinson takes the free kick.
40:29 Doug Loft takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
38:28 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Roberts by Josh Gowling. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary Roberts, clearance made by Matthew Lawrence.
38:13 Danny Spiller challenges Lee Collins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Doug Loft restarts play with the free kick.
37:38 The referee blows for offside. Alan Julian takes the indirect free kick.
36:27 Assist by Barry Fuller.
36:27 GOAL - Cody McDonald:Gillingham 2 - 0 Port Vale Cody McDonald gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Gillingham 2-0 Port Vale.
35:25 Danny Spiller concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Yates. John McCombe takes the direct free kick.
31:21 Barry Fuller fouled by Robert Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Lawrence.
31:21 Booking Robert Taylor goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
29:58 Foul by Curtis Weston on Doug Loft, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Adam Yates.
28:43 Shot by Doug Loft from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.
27:53 Foul by Danny Spiller on Doug Loft, free kick awarded. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
26:11 Corner from the right by-line taken by Doug Loft, Alan Julian makes a save.
25:29 Headed effort from inside the area by Joe Martin misses to the right of the goal.
23:23 Kevin Maher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Doug Loft. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
22:13 Adebayo Akinfenwa produces a right-footed shot from close in that clears the bar.
18:56 Robert Taylor produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.
Correction - 18:02 Lee Collins sends in a cross.
18:02 Lee Collins crosses the ball.
16:23 Effort from outside the box by Robert Taylor goes wide right of the target.
14:53 Marc Richards takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Lawrence.
12:48 Adebayo Akinfenwa fouled by Gareth Owen, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew Lawrence takes the direct free kick.
10:40 Adam Yates fouled by Cody McDonald, the ref awards a free kick. Stuart Tomlinson takes the direct free kick.
9:09 Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges Adam Yates unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Gary Roberts.
7:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Doug Loft by Joe Martin. Stuart Tomlinson restarts play with the free kick.
4:13 Cody McDonald takes a shot. Blocked by Gareth Owen.
2:06 Doug Loft fouled by Joe Martin, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
0:34 Assist by John Nutter.
0:34 GOAL - Cody McDonald:Gillingham 1 - 0 Port Vale Goal scored by Cody McDonald from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Gillingham 1-0 Port Vale.
0:00 The game gets underway.
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