Doncaster Rovers 2 Gillingham 0

GILLINGHAM made the long trip home from Doncaster with nothing after a difficult Saturday afternoon at Belle Vue.

The damage was done in the first half with both goals and a sickening injury to on loan striker Gary Mulligan.

Doncaster took the lead in controversial circimstances on 27 minutes when Jason Brown tried to claw David Wheater's effort away after a goalmouth scramble but the assistant referee was well positioned and immediately signalled that the ball had crossed the line.

They doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Ross McCormack calmly converted from the penalty spot after Leon Johnson was adjudged to have pushed Jason Price in the area.

But Gillingham's attacking injury problems got worse in the 35th minute when Mulligan was strectchered off with s serious leg injury after going down under challenge from Kevin Horlock.

It was Mulligan who had had the visitors' best chance shortly before with a free shot from 12 yards but he was leaning back and ballooned high over Alan Blayney's crossbar.

Paul Shields came onto replace him, but with Neil Harris and Matt Jarvis already injured, and Darren Byfield suspended, it was a sorry sight for Ronnie Jepson and the Gills fans as the young striker was carried from the field.

Earlier, Doncaster had come close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute when McCormack's shot beat Brown but cannoned back off the bar and fell kindly for Danny Jackman to clear.

Gillingham: Brown, Hope, Johnson, Cox, Clohessy, Flynn, Cochrane (Grant 82), Crofts, Jackman, Black, Mulligan (Shields 35).
Subs Not Used: Crichton, Rose, Sancho.
Attendance: 5,738.