First of 2009 as Gillingham Beat Morecambe

Gillingham have won their first league game of 2009, completing their first double of the season with a 1-0 win at Morecambe.

A goal from ex-Leeds United midfielder Curtis Weston on 19 minutes gave Gillingham a deserved away victory.

With captain Barry Fuller out, and key defender Garry Richards still suspended, manager Mark Stimson kept faith with the same starting eleven that performed so brilliantly in the FA Cup against Aston Villa, a game in which Gillingham were so unjustly denied a replay.

A bobbly pitch and strong winds couldn’t stop the Gills starting the brighter at Christie Park, with the Kent side having several chances to take the lead, most notably when Canadian international Simeon Jackson blasted wide after being sent clear by Gary Mulligan.

After dominating the opening stages of the game, Gillingham scored the goal they threatened in the 19th minute, after a rebound off the post from a Gary Mulligan shot came to Curtis Weston, who fired in from 10 yards.

Morecambe had a chance soon after the goal, but midfielder Fraser McLachlan lashed a wild shot embarrassingly over the stand and out of the stadium.

Despite the chance, it was the Gills who continued to dominate after their goal, even when key player Dennis Oli was forced off through injury on 38 minutes.

After the break, the home side started brighter, the Aaron Taylor being set-up by the lively Rene Howe to almost pull Morecambe level.

As conditions got worse in the second half, Morecambe got better, replicating the play that saw Gillingham dominate the first half. This was most notable when Craig Stanley went extremely close for the Shrimps, his rasping drive from 25-yards looking like a goal, until experienced keeper Simon Royce made a stunning diving save to keep the visitors in front.

Morecambe kept on pushing in the closing stages, meaning Gillingham had to revert to a 4-5-1 formation to keep the Shrimps at bay, with young talent Jack Payne replacing Irish striker Gary Mulligan.

Gillingham had a few chances to get a second in stoppage time, with Curtis Weston having the ball cleared off the line with the last chance of the match four minutes into added time. There was not to be a second for the visitors, but it mattered little as the final whistle sounded soon after, confirming the fact that the Gills had won their first league game of 2009.

It is a result that means Gillingham remain tenth in the Coca Cola League Two table, still just two points off the play-off places.