Gills sweep aside SwindonGillingham dented Swindon's automatic promotion hopes in Sky Bet League One while boosting their own chances of a late surge into the play-offs with a fully-deserved 3-0 win at the County Ground.Cody McDonald's quick thinking enabled him to fire the Gills into a 29th-minute lead and Jake Hessenthaler's deft header rocked the Robins at the start of the second half before McDonald iced the cake late on.Gills boss Justin Edinburgh had clearly done his homework and the Kent side pressed high up the pitch from the first minute, preventing Swindon from playing the ball out from the back and forcing them into errors.McDonald had given them a warning as he ran in behind a square Swindon back line, only to fire wide.But he showed brilliant awareness when the Swindon defence failed to deal with Doug Loft's innocuous cross from the left and McDonald, with his back to goal, reacted superbly to back-heel the ball in from 10 yards for his 13th league goal of the season.Swindon might have got back in had a touch been applied to Harry Toffolo's dangerous free-kick but it would have been unjust on Gillingham, who doubled their lead just 18 seconds into the second half.There seemed little danger when Bradley Dack had the ball near the left corner flag but he whipped in a cross and Hessenthaler glanced a deft header into the far corner.Swindon huffed and puffed and briefly threatened when substitute Ben Gladwin struck the post with a crisp shot.But Gillingham rubbed salt into Swindon's wounds with a third goal two minutes from timeKeeper Stuart Nelson sent a long ball down the pitch and McDonald caught Nathan Thompson napping and nipped in to lob his second over Wes Foderingham
Source : PA
Source: PA