Gillingham deservedly took maximum points from their trip to lowly Harrogate Town.
The Gills bossed the opening half without scoring, but went ahead soon after the restart through Conor Masterson. Armani Little added another from the penalty spot and Sam Vokes scored a third to seal the win.
Harrogate went into the game without a win in 16 league games. Their last success was a 1-0 victory at Priestfield against the Gills in late September but they were second best on Saturday.
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth had the luxury of naming the same starting team from the previous week, which had seen his side win their first game in 10, thanks to a comeback victory over bottom-side Newport County.
New Gills signing Cameron Antwi – who scored for the opposition that day – wasn’t involved at Harrogate as the paperwork on his deal from Newport, which included international clearance, wasn’t completed in time.
Next-to-bottom Harrogate had been busy in the transfer window, hopeful their new recruits can help them survive the drop. They included four home debutants on Saturday, with recently signed striker Emile Acquah among the starters.
Gillingham made a lively start but lost their way briefly after Jonny Smith went off injured, just 18 minutes in. The winger spoke in the week about it being his most frustrating season because of injuries and this was another setback for the on-loan Wigan man.
The Gills were already without Ethan Coleman, who had picked up an injury ahead of the game.
Robbie McKenzie had an early header saved and Josh Andrews nodded wide before Jonny Smith’s pinpoint cross found Bradley Dack, but his headed effort was tipped over the bar by busy keeper Henry Gray.
Smith was replaced by Garath McCleary, and Harrogate wrested control of the game for a while. Lewis Cass had the ball in the net, but referee Zac Kennard-Kettle had already blown for a foul.
Cathal Heffernan headed over but Gillingham soon regained control and the hosts were grateful to their Ipswich loan keeper Gray for keeping the score level.
He made saves from Sam Gale, Conor Masterson and McKenzie.
Gillingham hadn’t managed to find the net by the break despite 10 efforts – five of them on target. Harrogate hadn’t managed to trouble Glenn Morris once.
Two goals in five minutes put Gillingham in control early in the second half.
In the 51st minute, the Gills went ahead. Masterson scored his second goal in as many games, crashing the ball home after chesting down Andrews’ lay-off from Max Clark’s cross
Morris was called upon to save for the first time shortly after Gillingham’s opener, when he denied Reece Smith, but the Gills went straight back down the other end and won a penalty when Andrews was tripped in the box by Chanse Headman.
With 55 minutes played, it was 2-0 to the Gills as Little made no mistake with the penalty, his fourth out of four this season.
Harrogate put some pressure on the Gills goal with 20 minutes left and a goal at that stage would have made things squeaky for Ainsworth’s men.
Seb Palmer-Houlden came close to scoring the third, running at goal and shooting across goal. Goalkeeper Gray got a hand to the ball to guide it wide.
Home fans behind the goal were calling for their manager to be sacked as their team struggled to find a way through Gills’ defence.
The third goal came on 85 minutes. McCleary didn’t connect properly to a shot, and it fell invitingly for Vokes to slam home in front of the delighted away following.
Gillingham: Morris, Gale, Clark, Masterson, A Smith, McKenzie, Little, J Smith (McCleary 19mins), Rowe (Palmer-Houlden 69mins), Dack (E Williams 82mins), Andrews (Vokes 69mins). Subs not used: Turner, Hutton, Akomeah.
Harrogate: Gray, Slater, Morris, Acquah, Headman, Muldoon (Sutton 66mins), Smith, Cass, Cursons (Thomson 46mins), Heffernan, Falkingham (Marsh 79mins). Subs not used: Oxley, McAleny, Horton, Gibson.
Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle
Attendance: 2,747 (472 away)
