A bright start was key for Gillingham on Saturday said boss Steve Lovell.

Josh Parker’s seventh minute opener got his team off to a flyer as they went onto beat Plymouth Argyle 5-2.

Victory ended a nine-game winless run for Lovell’s side.

Report: Gillingham 5 Plymouth Argyle 2

Lovell said: “It was a brilliant win, we scored five but it could have been a lot more, with the chances that we had.

“We have known all along that we can play, we showed that earlier in the season, particularly away from home.

“We had a bit of a dip but that is because players lose a bit of form, they are going to do that in the season. Perhaps we had more than one or two losing their form at the same time and it has an effect on the rest of the team.

“It was great to finish this season on a high and to score five goals here (at Priestfield) was a great achievement, against the side that were going for something themselves.

“We started bright and that helped. Most of the games that we have won this year are when we have gone infront first. It was a brilliant way to finish off the season.”

Parker may have opened the scoring but strike-partner Tom Eaves finished the game with three.

Lovell said: “Before the game I said to Josh and Tom it would be good for them to finish the season off with a couple of goals each.

“Josh started it with the first one and then Tom got his hat-trick and it is a tremendous feat. Tom has had a great season with us.”

Gillingham’s win was wrapped up with a stoppage-time fifth from Elliott List, just a week after his injury-time equaliser against Bristol Rovers.

“I have always said that if Elliott can get one then he will go on and get a few,” the manager said.

“It's amazing really. He has got pace and he has got power and he can finish but it is all about confidence. If you are scoring you know that you were going to score from anywhere and as soon as he went through at the end I knew he was going to score.

“He works hard and stays out with the boys after training to work on this finishing and I am pleased for him.”