Exeter City 3 Gillingham 0

Gillingham had another away day to forget as they crashed to defeat in Exeter on Saturday.

Three first half goals for Exeter virtually ended any hope that Gillingham had of getting anything from the League 2 match at St James' Park.

Gillingham?s last win in Exeter was back in 1961 and things started badly on their latest visit when Richard Logan headed the home side in front after just seven minutes.

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Half chances for the Gills fell to Simeon Jackson, whose shot was well saved by keeper Paul Jones, while John Nutter struck his shot well over.

The Gills were poor and five minutes before the break Adam Stansfield made it 2-0. His original chance was blocked by Simon King but the striker got to his feet and played it back for Ryan Harley. Simon Royce blocked Harley?s follow-up but Stansfield was there to fire home.

Stansfield made it 3-0 before the break when a mistake from Nutter let Matthew Gill on the ball. He played it through the defence and Stansfield planted the third past Royce.

The visitors made an encouraging start to the second half and on 54 minutes Andy Barcham?s curling shot went just a few inches wide of the post. Albert Jarrett got his shot on target minutes later but Jones was there with safe hands.

Just after the hour Mark Bentley fired over and Jarrett also missed with a free-kick on 75 minutes, but got closer seconds later, with a left footed shot which smacked against the post.

It was a much better second half for Gillingham but the damage was already done and Exeter strolled to the final whistle.

Have your say on the Gillingham SpeakOut section.

Manager Mark Stimson said: ?First half performance was very poor and nowhere near what we were expecting.

?I came here confident that the players were going to get something from the game and that was our brief before the game, do we think were good enough to win here. The answer I got was yes.

?What happened from quarter to two to quarter to four - that?s the one you have to worry about a little bit. Do certain players take it on board enough and boss people enough on the football pitch.

?You have to come here (to Exeter) and you don?t get beat. To come and not get anything and to not score and to concede three was not a bad day at the office, it was an awful day.?

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Richards, Crofts, Bentley (Pugh 85mins), Jackson, Weston (Lewis 67mins), Jarrett, Barcham. Subs not used: Julian, Wynter, Mills.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Gill, Seaborne, Taylor, Harley (Cozic 83mins), Stansfield, Edwards, Stewart (Obersteller 70mins), Logan (Sercombe 80mins), Moxey. Subs not used: Marriott, Watson.

Attendance: 4,819.