Gillingham players congratulate Jordan Obita on his second goal Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Jordan Obita struck twice as the Gills brushed aside promotion-chasing Cheltenham in League 2 on Saturday.

Obita struck a goal either side of the break for the Gills to put them in charge against a Cheltenham side aiming for automatic promotion.

Chris Whelpdale’s late strike followed Obita’s double to seal it for the Gills.

An evenly-fought opening half was separated by Obita’s goal just moments before the half-time whistle.

Cheltenham had asked some early questions of Gills’ defence and the visitors were thankful to a fluffed effort from Russell Penn and a timely tackle from Danny Jackman to deny Darryl Duffy.

The Gills had a couple of efforts as the half wore on but chances for Dennis Oli and Oliver Lee failed to trouble keeper Jack Butland.

With 45 minutes on the clock the Gills netted the opener as Obita chased onto Lee’s through ball and, after out-muscling defender Sido Jombati, the on-loan Reading man struck past Butland. It was the 18-year-old's second goal from his second Gills start and he wasn’t finished there.

Obita was one of three fresh faces in the starting XI, having recovered from tonsillitis. Also returning for the Gills were Danny Kedwell and right-back Matt Fish – making his first appearance since Boxing Day.

The Gills – backed by 382 travelling fans - had gone into the game with four players suspended and another six senior members of the squad out injured.

Cheltenham, as expected, made a lively start to the second half but a mistake at the back almost saw Kedwell through on goal. Keeper Butland had to race out to make a clearance.

It was the Gills who struck next, with Obita claiming his second on 53 minutes. Keeper Paulo Gazzaniga had only just saved Alan Bennett’s header and he launched a long ball forward which the Gills man got on the end of and looped the ball over Butland, as he and defender Bennett hesitated.

The Gills had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Andrew Madley after substitute Jo Kuffour was bundled over in the box by Jombati with 20 minutes left.

Butland then denied Kedwell five minutes later, saving with his chest, but a third goal for the Gills arrived after 83 minutes when Kedwell, Whelpdale and Kuffour combined to leave the Cheltenham defence chasing shadows.

Kedwell crossed and Whelpdale had a simple tap-in to make it 3-0 to Andy Hessenthaler’s side.

Gillingham: Gazzaniga, Fish, Jackman, Essam, King, Payne, O Lee, Whelpdale, Obita, Kedwell, Oli (Kuffour 62mins). Subs: Frampton, Evans, Hawkes, Miller.

Cheltenham: Butland, Jombati, Bennett, Elliott, Garbutt (Goulding 76mins), McGlashan, Summerfield, Pack (Spencer 57mins), Penn, Mohamed (Low 57mins), Duffy. Subs: Lowe, Smikle.

Attendance: 3,137

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