“An absolutely fantastic night” was how Martin Allen described his side’s win at Northampton.

Two goals either side of the break put the Gills in the driving seat but they conceded late to set up a tense finish.

But Allen’s side hung on to claim a fifth straight away league win to pull five points clear at the top of League 2.

Gillingham manager Allen said: “It was a nervous 10 minutes at the end and I didn’t want our team to sit back. We didn’t tell them to sit back and defend the goal. That wasn’t planned and when you have long throws coming into the box it makes it difficult.

“When you are 2-1 up away from home it is difficult. I saw them play Wolves the other week and it was a right rotten game. I knew what to expect and to a man, on and off the field, we stood up to it and I was very proud of them.

“It was absolutely fantastic. We had the swirling wind and it was a really quick pitch that had been cut short and watered for about an hour before the game. It was very difficult to go out and play but we set up to play good football and to move the ball around.

“We did that quite well in the first half and then in the second half it was going to be backs-to-the-wall against the wind, playing on the counter attack and it was a great performance.”

A classy finish from Deon Burton opened the scoring and Jack Payne smashed in the second from the edge of the box.

Allen said: “Burton is quality like that and when you get those chances you have to take them.

“That’s two goals now that Jack has got from that position; great technical finishes. Jack is in the team to get the ball down and play through midfield.

“It was a squad effort and all of the boys from the bench were giving it plenty from the side. We had a lot of supporters and they gave it everything for the team. I am sure for everyone behind that goal it was a long last 20 minutes looking right down the pitch to the other end.

“Northampton put long throws into the box and long free-kicks. They have people to compete and a centre forward who is a good player and so the ball is going to be around our box. You have to defend as a team and to a man everyone stood up to it and they performed above the call of duty once again.”

And it was the perfect response to the defeat on Saturday – the only one of the season so far.

“I knew it was going to come, from the way they trained on Monday,” said the Gills boss.

“They were sharp, they were bright and vibrant. We knew what type of game it was going to be and that there would be spells where they would create pressure.

"Perhaps the players were surprised when I said we could match that but it was how we could play, if we could get the ball down and pass it, and my god, with the conditions didn’t we play some great football? We knocked it about, zipped it around, dominated possession and I was very proud of them.”

Picture: Barry Goodwin