by Andrew Gidley

Curtis Weston was the star of the show as Gillingham claimed their third home league win of the season with a 2-0 win over below-par Millwall at sunny Priestfield on Saturday.

Weston had arguably his best game in a Gills shirt against his old club, making the first for Andy Barcham after five minutes and scoring the second himself with an excellent 20-yard strike five minutes before the break.

Man-of the-match Weston, 22, substitute for Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup final against Manchester United at just 17 years and 119 days, troubled his old club with his pace and footwork, and was involved in much of Gillingham's best work, before giving way to Adam Miller nine minutes from the end.

Gills boss Mark Stimson was full of praise for his midfielder. He said: "I thought he was absolutely outstanding and I had to bring him off at the end because he was very tired.

"He has got great potential to play higher than League 1. He's still young, still learning, a fantastic athlete, and strikes the ball well."

Gills, with only two defeats in the previous 17 league meetings, started superbly, as Barcham fired them ahead with a stunning 25-yard strike that gave visiting keeper David Forde no chance.

They operated a shoot-on sight tactic in the first half that saw them create seven chances in the opening half hour, before Weston doubled the lead with a sweet low strike inside the far post.

It could have been 3-0, but Danny Jackman shot straight at Forde.

Steve Morison had Millwall's first chance a minute later, the first effort saved by Simon Royce and the rebound hitting him and going wide.

Stimson admitted the quality of his side's first half display was the key to victory. He added: "The first 45 minutes was the best I have seen the team play since I have been here.

"We had a lot of movement, tremendous pace, created many chances, and could have been more than 2-0 up at half-time. We tried to maintain playing at that level - but it was difficult, because it was that good."

Weston was involved again five minutes into the second half, but his cross was just too high for Simeon Jackson, and then Oli fired over the bar.

The Lions made a double substitution at the start of the second-half and they improved slightly, with Neil Harris shooting straight at Royce, before Barcham and Jackson (twice) had chances at the other end.

Jackman had five stitches in a badly cut head, which forced him off near the end.

Stimson also revealed skipper Simon King has suffered a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury and looks set to be out until the New Year after another operation.

He also said he was talking to an unnamed Premiership club about signing a young defender on loan.

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Gowling, Bentley, Palmer, Oli, (Rooney 75) Weston (Miller 81), Maher, Jackman (Nutter 90), Barcham, Jackson.

Subs not used: Richards, Erskine, Julian, Payne.

Attendance: 8,097.