Cody McDonald bagged a hat-trick as a rampant Gillingham returned to winning ways at Stockport.

The Gills hit five goals past the hosts to make it six wins from seven as the up-turn in form continues for Andy Hessenthaler’s promotion chasers.

McDonald (pictured)scored his and Gillingham’s first to give them the edge at the break and Andy Barcham doubled the lead early in the second half.

A third Gillingham goal came before the hour-mark, scored again by McDonald, to finish the hosts off.

County pulled one back midway through the second half, through Ishmel Demontagnac, but a minute later Curtis Weston restored the three goal advantage.

McDonald then completed his first professional hat-trick with 79 minutes gone after planting Luke Rooney’s header into the back of the net.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side were missing Abebayo Akinfenwa from their starting XI and lined up with McDonald playing alone up-front.

The ploy caused problems for Stockport as the Gills, McDonald in particular, got in behind the defence on numerous occasions throughout the game.

McDonald netted the opening goal with 32 minutes gone after being put in on goal by John Nutter.

He had also twice been denied by County keeper Matt Glennon.

Stockport, with four new faces in the side and under the caretaker management of Peter Ward, came in and out of the game during the opening 45 minutes.

A fifth minute header from Jordan Rose went wide and late in the half Greg Tansey fired a shot across the face of Gillingham’s goal while at the other end Matt Lawrence had a header tipped wide by Glennon.

Stockport piled on the pressure at the start of the second half and Wes Fletcher struck the outside of the post with a header.

Despite the pressure from the hosts they found themselves 2-0 down on 51 minutes. McDonald was the creator this time as he threaded a ball through to Barcham.

Gills winger Barcham, starting in the side for the first time since August, saw his first effort saved by Glennon but the ball fell kindly for him to slot home into an empty net.

With 56 minutes gone McDonald scored his 10th of the season as he headed home Danny Spiller’s cross.

The Gills should have had a fourth on 67 minutes when Curtis Weston latched onto Spiller’s through-ball. Weston’s shot was blocked and McDonald’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Mark Lynch.

Moments later Glennon made a great double save to deny former County player Danny Jackman as the Gills continued to push for more goals.

Stockport thought they were back in the game on 70 minutes when Demotagnac glanced home Greg Tansey’s free-kick but less than a minute later Weston raced clear to make it 4-1 with his first goal in over a year.

McDonald was back on the score-sheet with his third goal of the game – heading home a fantastic cross from Luke Rooney to the delight of the 257 travelling fans.

Gills: Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Weston (Rooney 76mins), Maher, McDonald (S Payne 81mins), Barcham, Lawrence (Richards 86mins), Gowling, Spiller, Jackman. Subs not used: Bentley, Southall, Cronin.

County: Glennon, Lynch, Williams (Poole 74mins), Assoumani (Turnbull 46mins), Tansey, Elding, Husband (Griffin 65mins), Demontagnac, Rose, Fletcher, Grieve. Subs not used: Fon Williams, Vincent, Halls, Darkwath.

Attendance: 3,573

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