GILLINGHAM lost their third successive League 1 match on Tuesday night at Doncaster.

Manager Mark Stimson was pleased with the performance and felt referee Andy Haines gave the hosts a helping hand in both goals.

�It was a lot better performance than on Saturday,� said Stimson. �We were playing against a very good side in Doncaster and we have to just make sure we take this performance into our next 10 games now.

�Doncaster had a lot of chances but I didn�t think their two goals should have stood.

"The lad was offside for the first. I was a distance away from the second but how can he give handball when there are two big guys going for the ball competing. That�s hard to take on the chin.

�All credit to the players, they gave everything and if you can�t get any points then the next best thing is a performance.�

The Gills got off to an awful start when Doncaster midfielder James Coppinger found himself unmarked and crashed home the opener.

Gillingham remained a threat in the first half but Doncaster always looked the most likely to score.

Simon Royce, back after missing two games through illness, made two great saves from Sean McDaid and Richard Wellens while Brian Stock smacked a shot against the post.

Within three minutes of the re-start, Doncaster doubled the lead when Adam Bygrave handled in the box and Paul Heffernan steered home the penalty.

Just over half an hour remained when Andrew Crofts gave Gillingham hope, after slotting home from close range, but despite a brave effort they were unable to engineer an equaliser.

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, Maher, Bygrave, King, Miller, Crofts, Griffiths (Mulligan 69mins), Facey, Oli (Jackson 76mins). Subs not used: Stillie, Clohessy, Thurgood. Attendance: 7,867.