Morecambe 0 Gillingham 1

Gillingham completed their first double of the season with a narrow win at Morecambe.

The Gills followed up a 5-0 home win over Morecambe with a 1-0 win on their travels.

It was Gillingham?s third away win in League 2 of the season and pushed them a little closer to the play-off picture,

After an open start, Gillingham got a grip on the first-half, when Curtis Weston handed them an 18th minute lead with a simple finish.

The chance came following a great run from Dennis Oli, he found Gary Mulligan and the Irishman hit the base of the post. Oli?s follow-up was blocked but Weston had an easy chance to slot home past Barry Roche.

Oli was injured in the process and he never recovered. Twenty minutes later he hobbled off the field to be replaced by Nicky Southall.

Mulligan had earlier struck the woodwork with 15 minutes gone, as his volley clipped the top of the bar. He also shot just wide after just two minutes.

Morecambe?s best effort came from Fraser McLachlan but he lashed the 23rd minute effort over the bar. The home side also had an appeal for a penalty when Simon King tugged on Aaron Taylor?s shirt but referee Graham Laws ignored the shouts.

Keeper Simon Royce had to be alert early in the second-half to save from his own player ? as Adam Miller diverted a cross goalwards.

A header at the right end from Andy Barcham was well saved from Roche and Royce in the Gills goal saved comfortably from David Artell.

Both sides struggled to create clear cut chances in the second-half but Rene Howe came close with a low drive that was again dealt with by Royce.

Morecambe almost got back into the game with ten minutes left but Royce pulled off a great one handed save to tip Craig Stanley?s long range shot wide.

Weston almost added a second in injury time but his shot was cleared off the line by defender Garry Hunter.

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Gillingham boss Mark Stimson said: ?We knew it was going to be difficult but the players gave their all and I?m sure the supporters will go home really happy and proud of their football club.

?Everyone who took part was on their game, without being pretty but then again it was never going to be pretty because of the conditions of the pitch.

?From the goalkeeper to the subs coming on, they all had an input and it was a fantastic way to start 2009 in the league.?

The Gillingham squad will stay in the north now ahead of their trip to face Port Vale on Tuesday night.

?The players will get to know each other even more and then we?ll get focused and work towards Tuesday night now because its another big night for us,? added Stimson.

Gills: Royce, Nutter, Lewis, King, Bentley, Miller, Oli (Southall 38mins), Weston, Barcham, Mulligan (Payne 85mins), Jackson (Cumbers 90mins). Subs not used: Pugh, Julian.

Morecambe: Roche, Yates, Artell, Bentley, Stanley, Twiss, Howe, Wainwright (O?Carroll 73mins), McLachlan (Hunter 82mins), Taylor (Blinkhorn 61mins), Adams. Subs not used: Davies, McCann.

Attendance: 2,027.