Gillingham boost survival hopess with 2-0 win at Rochdale

Gillingham boosted their Football League survival hopes while delivering a hammer blow to bottom-of-the-table Rochdale with a 2-0 win at Spotland.

The visitors took the lead in the 24th minute, Robbie McKenzie’s delivery from the left dropping into the six-yard area and Oli Hawkins poked the ball past Richard O’Donnell.

For Rochdale, Scott Quigley fired wide from a promising position while Toby Mullarkey was on target with a 20-yard blast saved by Glenn Morris.

The home side started the second half with more purpose. Morris kept out an Ian Henderson header and a shot on the turn from Quigley while Mullarkey’s cross from the left struck the crossbar. Liam Kelly’s neat pass sent Abraham Odoh through on goal but neither he nor Devante Rodney could finish.

And it was game up for Dale when the visitors struck a sucker punch in the 76th minute. Tom Nichols broke into the area on the right and fired towards the bottom corner, George Lapslie getting a touch to the shot to help it into the net.