GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler expressed his pride in his team after they stormed to a 3-0 home win over Walsall on Easter. The victory kept the Gills out of the bottom three and ended a five game losing streak - much to Hessenthaler's relief.

He said: "I asked the players before the game to stand up and be counted and they did just that. We played some great football and probably should have scored three or four goals in the first half alone.

"We certainly deserved the three points and if we can get two more wins from our last four games then I'm sure we will stay up. We just need to show the same level of commitment and desire as we did against Walsall."

Gillingham were on fire from the first whistle against the Midlands side. Patrick Agyemang and Mamady Sidibe were both denied by Walsall keeper James Walker and Chris Hope's header hit the underside of the bar.

But Agyemang settled Gillingham's nerves with a close-range finish on the stroke of half time, before adding a second on 67 minutes with an individual goal.

Danny Spiller headed a third from Nicky Southall's corner in injury time to keep Gills in 21st place - one point above the relegation zone.