Matt Fish celebrates with team-mates after putting Gillingham 1-0 ahead against Scunthorpe Picture: Barry Goodwin

Gillingham piled further misery on League 1 strugglers Scunthorpe after a ruthless second-half display at Priestfield.

Matt Fish struck to put the Gills in front after 59 minutes and Deon Burton headed home shortly after to double the advantage.

Danny Kedwell scored his seventh penalty of the season to make it 3-0 and Adam Birchall netted his first competitive goal for the Gills, in stoppage-time, to complete the rout.

Gills manager Martin Allen – dressed in bright red trousers as part of the club’s ‘red, white and blue day’ – made five changes to his starting XI with youngsters Jack Payne, Callum Davies and Bradley Dack among those recalled.

Dack lasted just 22 minutes before limping off and being replaced by Charlie Lee.

For the opening stages of the match it was Scunthorpe who were doing all of the attacking. Gills keeper Stuart Nelson was called into action early on to save a shot from Mike Grella.

As the half wore on League 2 leaders Gillingham started to show more attacking intent themselves, with winger Myles Weston making a nuisance of himself.

Despite the improvements visiting keeper Sam Slocombe went into the break without being properly tested, as Matt Fish went closest for the Gills, hitting two shots that went narrowly wide.

Slocombe did have to make a good save in the opening seconds of the second half as a he showed good reflexes to deny the Gills after Weston’s corner was deflected goalwards. It was to be a half where Scunthorpe were second best to a rampant Gills.

Just before the hour the hosts went ahead. A pass forward from Romain Vincelot found Chris Whelpdale. His shot on the turn was saved by Slocombe but Fish was on hand to bury the loose ball.

Allen’s men strengthened their grip on the game six minutes later when Burton headed home a Weston cross, to claim his sixth goal of the season.

It got better for the Gills, in what was a dominant second-half display, as a foul on Danny Jackman saw referee Andy Woolmer point to the spot and Kedwell fired home his 11th goal of the season with 77 minutes gone.

Scunthorpe, who had barely a sniff of goal in the second 45 minutes, wasted a great chance to make the last few minutes tense as Ryan Jennings headed over, unmarked, from just a few yards out.

The win was capped with Birchall’s first goal for the Gills, in injury-time, as he pounced on a loose ball after keeper Slocombe spilled a cross.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Jackman, Davies, Barrett, Payne, Vincelot, Dack (Lee 22mins), Whelpdale, Weston (Birchall 79mins), Burton (Kedwell 71mins). Subs not used: Forecast, Strevens, Frampton, Montrose.

Scunthorpe: Slocombe, Ribeiro, Walker, Mirfin, Reid, Grella (Jennings 79mins), Barcham (Ryan 79mins), Duffy, Collins (Mozika 71mins), Newey, Hawley. Subs not used: Kennedy, Severn, Gibbons, Canavan.

Attendance: 4,017

What did you make of Gillingham's display on Saturday? Comment below.