Gillingham 1 Port Vale 0

A first half own goal saw Gillingham return to winning ways on home soil on Saturday.

John McCombe put the ball into his own net and it was enough for Gillingham to record their third straight home win.

Visiting defender McCombe handed Gillingham the lead after 33 minutes when he headed John Nutter?s free-kick past his own keeper.

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Before that Gillingham had come close with a powerful striker from Nutter which went just an inch wide of Joe Anyon?s goal.

Vale had threatened in the early stages of the game, with half chances for Shane Tudor and Marc Richards but once McCombe?s goal went in they quickly deteriorated.

Gillingham dominated the rest of the half and went into the break the more comfortable side.

Debutant striker Andy Barcham almost doubled the lead on 51 minutes but his lobbed effort was turned onto the bar by Luke Prosser and Jackson?s follow up went wide.

There were few chances for either side in the opening stages of the first half. Daniels? free-kick kept Anyon alert, while Nutter also had to be on his toes, when Anthony Griffin shot from distance after Simon Royce was caught out of position.

Garry Richards headed wide from Daniels? free kick but Vale were still in it and twice visiting striker Marc Richards came close. A headed effort went just over and a low free-kick was well held by Royce.

Anyon was nearly left red faced when he let Simeon Jackson?s low effort through his hands but was grateful that the shot didn?t beat the post.

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Gills manager Mark Stimson said: "It wasn?t pretty but sometimes you take the points. It was one of those games where we didn?t play well but we won and that?s a good sign because a couple of times this season we?ve played decent but got nothing from it.

"It was important to get back to winning ways, especially in front of our home support. The fans will probably go home tonight and think, 'we didn?t play well, but the players did work hard'.

"We knew it was going to be tough but we dug in and got three points."

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Richards, Crofts, Bentley, Jackson, Weston (Jarrett 85mins), Daniels, Barcham (Cumbers 90mins). Subs not used: Pugh, Julian, Mills.

Port Vale: Anyon, Stockley, McCombe, Prosser, Tudor (Lawrie 71mins), Griffith, Richman (Dodds 51mins), Davidson, Richards, Rodgers (Perry 83mins), Collins. Subs not used: Martin, Howland.