Gillingham make it 2-0 against Aldershot at Priestfield after Danny Kedwell converts a penalty Barry Goodwin

Gillingham extended their lead at the top of League 2 with a commanding performance against Aldershot.

Goals from Charlie Allen, Danny Kedwell and Myles Weston put the Gills 3-0 ahead at the break. Chris Whelpdale scored the fourth, in the second half, to seal a ninth win from 12 league fixtures for the Gills.

Saturday's victory at Priestfield put Martin Allen’s side six points clear at the top of the table.

The Gills boss made just one change to his starting eleven as midfielder Allen was brought back into the team, after returning from suspension, at the expense of experienced striker Deon Burton.

There were chances at either end in the opening minutes, with Gills’ Chris Whelpdale and Aldershot’s Danny Hylton heading over from corner balls.

With 10 minutes gone the Gills went ahead as another corner caused problems in the Aldershot box, keeper Jamie Young did well to save Whelpdale’s initial shot, but was unable to keep out Allen’s follow-up.

Aldershot – starting the afternoon second bottom in League 2 and with four straight defeats behind them - were being pinned in their own half and a second goal came from the penalty spot.

Kedwell’s cross was handled by Sonny Bradley and the Gills striker made no mistake once more from 12 yards, claiming his sixth penalty goal of the season from six attempts. It was his 10th goal in total.

Gills’ leading scorer Kedwell played a hand in the third goal. His header from keeper Stuart Nelson’s clearance was guided into the path of Weston, whose first touch gave the forward the space he needed and a low shot into the bottom corner evaded the stretch of goalkeeper Young.

Weston remained a threat on the break but the visitors almost claimed a goal themselves in first-half stoppage time, but Gills keeper Stuart Nelson saved well from Craig Reid.

Aldershot needed an early goal to get back into the match and Hylton’s low shot looked dangerous but was blocked by Matt Fish, who himself had moments earlier smashed an effort over the bar at the other end.

A fourth Gillingham goal, on 66 minutes, ended any chance of Aldershot getting back into the match as half-time substitute Andy Frampton played the ball across to Whelpdale and he took a touch before shooting low and seeing the ball bounce in off the post.

Young saved with his feet to deny Robbie Findley while at the other end the visitors did have some good chances, but they were wasteful, with Hylton glancing one effort wide and Peter Vincenti sending an effort in the same direction. Another chance with 10 minutes left saw Hylton drill a shot wide after he had robbed Adam Barrett of the ball.

When Aldershot did find the target, as Danny Rose did from distance late on, they found Nelson and he beat the late shot away. He also got down to save from Michael Rankine to hold on to the clean sheet as well as the points.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Martin (Frampton 46mins), Barrett, Flanagan, Wright, Whelpdale, Payne (Strevens 61mins), Allen, Weston (Findley 67mins), Kedwell. Subs not used: Montrose, Dack, Burton, Forecast.

Aldershot: Young, Herd, A Morris, Brown, Branston, Hylton, Vincenti, Mekki (Payne 78mins), Reid, Bradley, Rose. Subs not used: Lancashire, Rankine, Berqvist, Anderson, Donnelly, G Morris.

Attendance: 5,039