The first half opened with an early goal. McEveley whipped in a low left footed cross from a free kick and it found its way in to the bottom corner of the goal without touching anyone. Just minutes later Smith played Flynn through, giving him a chance to double the lead. Flynn tried to slot it into the bottom corner but it went just wide.
After the initial flurry of Gillingham attacks Stoke got back into the game and hit the post from a thunderous free kick. Gillingham went in to the break 1-0 up, after a fantastic first half performance. The midfield was looking a lot better than usual, and stringing together some great one touch passes to create space.
The second half was less impressive than the first but Gillingham did what they needed to do to take away all 3 points. Stoke equalised after a mistake by Banks, in which he was stranded and collided with Hope. Banks was later replaced by Bossu, as he was suffering from the resulting injury.
The game was though by a fantastic goal from Smith who put in a real captain's performance against a team that are interested in signing him. The ball fell to Smith on the edge of the area, and he volleyed it with the outside of his right foot into the top corner. The fans, who were brilliant all night, went wild.
After the final whistle the relief was there to see, but this was not a lucky victory, it was a great performance by every player and the team as a whole as Gillingham outplayed the form team of the league.