GILLINGHAM 5 (BENTLEY '12, JACKSON '51 '85 '88, MILLER '72,)
SWINDON TOWN 0

League One, The KRBS Priestfield Stadium

Gillingham hotshot Simeone Jackson started the new campaign in blistering form with a second half hat-trick as the home side breezed past Swindon at The KRBS Priestfield Stadium.

Swindon Town boss Danny Wilson began the game with Anthony McNamee playing just behind Billy Paynter in the front line and also handed first Swindon starts to summer signings David Lucas, Scott Cuthbert, Gordon Greer, Jonathan Douglas and Alan O'Brien. Kevin Amankwaah began in a right-midfield role with Douglas, Timlin and O'Brien completing the midfield.

Before the game there was a minute's applause for former England Manager Sir Bobby Robson with both sets of fans paying tribute to one of the game's most respected figures.

The action was soon under way with the home side eager to make a big start on their return to League One, after winning the Play-Offs at Wembley last term. Former Swindon man Curtis Weston was included in the Gills midfield.

The first corner of the game went Town's way and left-back Lecsinel Jean-Francois rose high but saw his header deflected wide only for appeals for a second corner to be waved away by Referee Mr G Horwood.

However it was the hosts who opened the scoring on twelve minutes. A crossfield ball from Nutter caught out Jean-Francois at left-back and Simeone Jackson was able to advance to the byline before cutting the ball back for Mark Bentley who had the simple task of sidefooting the ball past Lucas.

Soon after the goal a double chance came Swindon's way. First Douglas struck a sweet volley from the edge of the box which was cleared as far as O'Brien and hit effort was deflected for a corner. From the resulting centre Jean-Francois seemed to have got the ball in the net only for a last-ditch clearance to clear the ball off the line and away for another Town corner.

The Robins continued their attacking efforts with McNamee next to try his luck from the edge of the box which result in Town's fourth unanswered corner with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

A fifth corner of the game - which had all gone in Swindon's favour - followed on the half-hour with McNamee's centre met by Morrison who headed just wide.

The chances continued to come and McNamee's promising run eight minutes before the break saw the former Watford man skip past two challenges before firing in a cross which Paynter headed just over from an acute angle.

Alan O'Brien's pace took him clear with two minutes of the half remaining and having outstripped his marker down the left hand side, put in another fine cross although on this occasion Paynter was unable to get on the end of it. Unfortunately the winger fell awkwardly and was treated by Physio Dick Mackey as the half-time whistle blew.

Half-Time: Gillingham 1 Swindon Town 0

Alan O'Brien emerged early from the half-time break and after testing out his injury, was able to start the second half on the left flank in an unchanged Town line-up.

Anthony McNamee fired a left foot shot two yards wide with three minutes of the second half played following a clever inside break from Amankwaah.

It took just five minutes of the second half for hotshot Simeone Jackson to open his account for the campaign. A through ball found the defender on the edge of the box and having passed Morrison, he smashed a right-footed effort into the back of the net giving Lucas no chance.

Town boss Danny Wilson made his first change of the afternoon soon after with Cuthbert withdrawn with Lloyd Macklin coming on in his place. Amankwaah dropped into right-back, McNamee to right midfield and Macklin up front alongside Paynter.

Billy Paynter saw his strike from distance deflected before the hour after what had been a frustrating period for The Robins. A second switch followed with Mark Marshall introduced for O'Brien - who immediately received treatment on an ankle injury sustained just before the break.

Gillingham made it 3-0 with eighteen minutes remaining. A cross from Nutter - his third assist of the game - fell to Miller eight yards out who diverted his header past Lucas who was rooted to the spot.

A McNamee free-kick ten minutes from time found Morrison in space but the young centreback was unable to test Gills stopper Julian and the ball fell wide.

It was Jackson who scored the fourth - a fine individual effort. A ball into the striker's feet saw Jackson turn neatly, flick the ball through Morrison's legs before blasting the ball into the back of the net from just inside the box with five minutes left on the clock.

Jackson completed his treble two minutes later with a low finish into the bottom corner of the net with Swindon all at sea. It had been a torrid afternoon in the South East with the Gills striker able to receive a standing ovation as he was replaced by Jacob Erskine as the clock ticked towards full-time.

Latest: Gillingham 5 Swindon Town 0

Gillingham: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, John Nutter, Garry Richards, Mark Bentley, Simeon Jackson (Erskine '90), Andy Barcham, Adam Miller, Josh Gowling, Curtis Weston, Jack Payne (Yussuff '87)

Substitutes not used: Simon Royce (GK), Chris Palmer, Tom Wynter, Luke Rooney, Mark McCammon

Swindon Town: David Lucas; Scott Cuthbert (Macklin '54), Gordon Greer (Capt), Sean Morrison, Lecsinel Jean-Francois; Kevin Amankwaah, Jonathan Douglas, Michael Timlin, Alan O'Brien; Anthony McNamee, Billy Paynter

Substitutes not used: Phil Smith (GK), Callum Kennedy, Jerel Ifil, Craig Easton, Mark Marshall, Jon-Paul McGovern

Booking: Timlin, Morrison

Attendance: 6,852 (788 from Swindon)

Kick-Off: 12.30pm