Chris Whelpdale celebrates his goal against Macclesfield with Gillingham team-mates Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham hit four first half goals to win on their travels once again in League 2.

Goals from Chris Whelpdale, Josh Gowling, Cody McDonald and Adebyao Akinfenwa put the Gills firmly in charge, leading 4-1 at the break, but midway through the second half Macclesfield pulled one back.

The first half blitz, however, was enough for the Gills to claim a third consecutive away victory.

Gillingham were actually trailing the game in the seventh minute, but two goals in the next five minutes put Andy Hessenthaler’s men in charge.

Hamza Bencherif had put Macc 1-0 ahead with a deflected long-range free-kick, but the scores were level two minutes later when Charlie Lee’s throw came out to Chris Whelpdale and he finished.

Three minutes later and the Gills were ahead when Whelpdale’s cross was volleyed home from Josh Gowling, who was back in the team after completing a one-month loan deal at Lincoln.

In the 19th minute the Gills were 3-1 up when Danny Spiller crossed for McDonald and he headed home unopposed from close range.

The travelling Gillingham fans couldn’t believe their luck when a fourth goal went in after 33 minutes as Akinfenwa netted from just a yard out at the second attempt from Spiller’s corner. His original header was saved by the keeper, but he followed up by side-footing home.

It wasn’t until first half injury time that Macc looked threatening and after a series of corners John Nutter was forced into clearing off the line from Emile Sinclair, before making another good stop to deny Vinny Mukendi.

Gillingham had chances early in the second half of extending their advantage with Lee heading a Spiller corner over, Akinfenwa seeing his shot blocked by keeper Jose Veiga and McDonald firing an effort narrowly wide.

The hosts pulled a goal back with 71 minutes gone when Tyrone Barnett headed in a corner kick, which bounced in off the underside of the bar.

Barnett almost scored a Macclesfield third in the 90th minute, but Alan Julian got a fingertip to the ball as he headed towards the top corner.

Macclesfield: Veiga, Reid, Bencherif, Morgan, Chalmers (Lowe 11mins), Draper, Sinclair, Nsiala (Butcher 80mins), Bolland, Barnett, Mukendi (Hamshaw 64mins). Subs not used: Cudworth, Daniel, Wedgbury, Sappleton.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Lawrence, Gowling, Maher, Spiller, Lee (Oli 81mins), Whelpdale (Martin 56mins), Akinfenwa, McDonald. Subs not used: King, Jackman, Inkango, White, Cronin.

Attendance: 1,507