Gillingham 2 Hartlepool 1

A DENNIS Oli-inspired Gillingham overturned a half-time deficit to claim three points against Hartlepool at Priestfield on Saturday.

If was Mark Stimson's first league win as manager and he was naturally delighted with the outcome.

"I feel very happy," he said. "When I came into the job all I wanted to do was to get that first league win as quickly as possible and to get the three points was very pleasing.

"In the games we played previously we've died in the second half. I'm a believer in fitness and in the second half we came out and played some fantastic football and looked a lot brighter."

In a first period where the Gills offered little, the visitors went ahead on 25 minutes. Gillingham's defence failed to clear their lines after allowing a long throw to bounce and James Brown drilled home from near the penalty spot.

It was almost 2-0 three minutes later but Simon Royce did superbly to tip away Richard Barker's close range header.

But it was a different story after the break as the game opened up and the Gills levelled less than a minute into the second half.

Mark Bentley and Oli both went after a hopeful ball forward but it was Oli who got the decisive touch to lob over keeper Jan Budtz.

And the Gills got the winner in the 59th minute when Oli showed great pace to power through the visiting defence before beating Budtz from close range.

Luke Freeman replaced the match-winner with eight minutes to play and the 15-year-old became the youngest player ever to appear in the league for the club.

See more pictures from Priestfield >>>

Gillingham: Royce, Clohessy, Bygrave, King, Armstrong, Bentley, Thurgood, Stone (Southall 90), Oli (Freeman 82), Dickson, Griffiths (Miller 53).

Subs Not Used: Stillie, Brown, Freeman.

Attendance: 5,488.

* See Monday's Medway Messenger for all the action and reaction from Priestfield.