Attendance: 5,378

Match Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire)

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Rovers and television just does not work as once again a disappointing first half performance cost Rovers dear as their TV jinx continued at the Priestfield Stadium.

A first half header from Crofts added to an unfortunate own goal from Chris McCready earlier in the half and despite something of a fight back in the second half in which Rovers hit the woodwork three times, they could not find a way through and the home side grabbed their first win of 2007.  

Ronnie Moore made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Bradford last Friday night with Chris Greenacre returning after the flu in place of Calvin Zola upfront.  The second change was an enforced one with the injured Ian Goodison being replaced in the line-up by Carl Tremarco who played at left-back with Sherriff moving to centre-back.

The early signs of trouble were evident for the Rovers fans as the home side began the game the stronger and Gary Mulligan, who scored twice at Prenton Park back in December headed onto the roof of the Rovers net with half an hour gone.

Steve Davies had Rovers first shot on goal from distance but he missed the angle and the ball sailed wide.  Shortly after that chance a cross from the touchline from Davies seemed a little too hard and Taylor and Shuker were unable to convert the inviting cross.

In the 21^st minute, the home side took the lead from a corner they had been awarded on the right hand side.  Danny Jackman played a waist height ball into the Rovers danger area and with Rovers keeper Joe Hart flapping somewhat, the ball deflected off Chris McCready and into the net.

Gills Man of the Match Bas Savage headed onto the roof of the net as the home side continued to have the better of the game but at the other end Shane Sherriff should have done better from a corner by Steve Davies, which the Australian headed wide.

It was more sleepy defending that undid the visitors just before the half hour mark as Mark Bentley was allowed to whip in a cross from the Gills right which was met by a  superb header from Andrew Crofts to make it 2-0 which it stayed until the half-time break.

As the second 45 minutes got underway, the signs were a little better for the visitors as they seemed a little more involved in the game with Steve Davies sending a second shot wide as he had done in the first half.

Just after the hour mark, the best move of the match for either side came from Rovers when Chris Shuker played a one-two with Chris Greenacre before striking a shot onto the underside of the bar before the danger was cleared.

Just five minutes later, the Rovers pair combined again as the now useful looking Shuker crossed to Greenacre and the strikers header struck the left hand post and Davies’s rebound was well defended.

Rovers made it a hat-trick of woodwork strikes in the space of ten minutes when another ball in from Shuker was headed onto the right hand post by John Mullin as Rovers failed to make their pressure count.

Rovers replaced Steve Davies with Calvin Zola with just under ten minutes remaining but it was too little too late as Rovers failed to score for the first time since the trip to Carlisle back in November.

In the end a terrible first half cost Rovers at least a point although the Gillingham fans will surely admit that luck played a huge part on three occasions in the second half but they took their chances when Rovers didn’t.

Rovers now travel to Oldham on Saturday 3^rd February and a much improve, ninety minute performance is needed there.

Chris McCready – In spite of putting the home side in front with an unfortunate own goal, McCready had a decent performance at the back for Rovers in a game in which the midfield, and as a result the strikers, really failed to shine.

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"The first half was an absolute shambles. I’m totally embarrassed that a side of mine could crumble like that. There was no heart and no commitment. We had the opportunity to go fifth and threw it away."

"For the second half you can give them a pat on the back for the way we came out but we’ve been soft centred down the middle. We can’t defend like that. Our defending in the first half was like a pub team at times. As the manager of the club I expect better."

"We’ve got a tough game coming up and we’ve got a week to put it right. They’ll be working morning and afternoon. We’ve got a great opportunity to get out of the division, but with the performances like that, we’ll stay in it."

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