Match-winner and captain Shaun Williams insists points are all that matter - as he scored late on to secure another 1-0 victory for Gillingham.

The Gills beat Harrogate Town at Priestfield to secure their fifth win from seven in League 2, all by the same one-goal scoreline.

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Williams said: “I know people will want free-flowing football and loads of goals but at the end of the day, three points are all that matters.

“You can play a team off the park and not win.

“We’ve won seven in 10 (in all competitions) and we are moving in the right direction.”

Gillingham are sitting top of League 2 after seven games, proof that being hard to beat is paying off.

On a weekend where the Gills picked up a 1-0 win, league rivals Tranmere sacked their boss as they have only won one in seven, despite their chairman admitting the football’s been attractive.

It was a tough afternoon for the players on Saturday, on what was the hottest day of the year.

“Even waiting in the tunnel, you just knew it was going to be tough,” said the captain.

“When we played Palace in pre-season last year, an evening game, that was similar temperature and that was quite demanding.

“It was quite draining and takes a lot out of you.”

Williams might have been tired but he was alert enough in the box to pounce on a loose ball as Tom Nichols fired in a shot from a goal-mouth scramble, slotting in from close range to send Priestfield into raptures.

All four of his Gillingham goals - including three last season - have come on home soil and it’s the second stoppage-time winner, having done the same to beat Carlisle towards the end of last season.

Speaking about that match-winning feeling, he said: “It is what you play football for, moments like that, and I enjoy them when they come.

“It is a brilliant feeling, the (fans) seem to suck the ball in that end, it’s the second occasion late into a game that I’ve done it, it is a brilliant feeling.”

Williams might not have been on the pitch had he chosen to take a breather. The manager had asked if he was okay to go on.

He said: “Well, it’s his decision at the end of the day, but he trusts me enough to ask how I am and I felt alright, luckily it paid off.”