Four goals in a 20 minute second half spell was enough for Colchester to record a comfortable win over Gillingham at Layer Road. Tony Bullock's display between the sticks though, prevented a double figure score.
The home side opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Greg Halford ended a neat move by lifting the ball over Bullock. Halford bagged a second just after the break before Jamie Cureton netted twice in eight minutes.
The final goal came from former Gillingham loanee Wayne Brown who latched onto a half clearance by Neil Harris before drilling low past Bullock.
Manager Ronnie Jepson made just one change to the side that suffered defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Priestfield on Tuesday. Michael Flynn, available after serving a three-match suspension for his red card at Burscough, was preferred to Neil Harris, as the manager lined up a 4-5-1 formation.
Gillingham started the game brightly with Andrew Crofts seeing a long-range effort go just wide of the target. Darren Byfield then forced a good save from Aidan Davison in the Colchester goal as Gills pressed.
Another neat move up field by Clohessy saw Byfield and Daniel Spiller exchange passes but Colchester's defence were able to thwart the attack and raced up field themselves. Jarvis rushed back and was on hand to clear danger when he blocked Mark Yeates shot on goal.
Then Gills won a free kick on the right when Byfield was brought down. Tom Williams swung in the free kick but United keeper Davison punched clear for the home side.
Minutes later shouts for a penalty for Gills were waved away by referee Mr, Jarnal Singh. Spiller had linked up well with Byfield before crossing into the box. Crofts was well positioned to pounce at the far post but seemed to get a shove in the back and the chance went begging. Despite protests by the Gills players Mr. Singh waved play on.
Gills were thankful to Leon Johnson moments later when he chased Halford into the box after Colchester had broke at speed. Halford shot from 12 yards but under pressure from Johnson he failed to hit the target.
Then Paul Smith made a last ditch tackle to deny Sam Stockley an opportunity on goal and this time it was the home players claiming a penalty, again Mr. Singh waved play on.
Colchester then took the lead after a neat counter attack. Jamie Cureton swung the ball over from the left. It fell to Halford and after controlling he was able to lift the ball over an advancing Bullock and into an empty net.
Chances fell to both sides as the half drew to a close. Neil Danns ran 35 yards through the middle before firing just wide of Bullock's goal. Byfield then forced a good save from Davison when he turned and shot from a tight angle.
Then John White cut inside Clohessy before finding the side netting with his shot. Up the other end Flynn got himself into a good position on the edge of the box, but under pressure from Colchester's defence, he scuffed his shot, with what turned out to be the last attempt of the half.
The second half was all Colchester as they terrorised the Gills defence. Just seven minutes in Halford scored his second of the afternoon bursting through the middle he unleashed a thunderbolt past Bullock and into the top right hand corner from 25 yards.
Two minutes later it was 3-0. Another neat move up field by the home side ended with Jamie Cureton receiving the ball on the edge of the box. The experienced striker showed true class when he volleyed home past Bullock to stun Gills.
Jepson reacted immediately throwing on fresh legs in the shape of Danny Jackman and Neil Harris for Paul Smith and Spiller.
Colchester kept Gills back in their own half as they pushed forward at every opportunity. In the minutes that followed Yeates saw a decent ball into the box cleared by Cox before Cureton struck a shot just wide of Bullock's right upright from the edge of the box.
Gills had a glorious chance to pull a goal back on 57 minutes when Jackman sent a dangerous cross into the box. Crofts shrugged off his marker to get to the ball but sadly lifted it high over bar from just six yards.
A minute later Davison out jumped everybody to punch clear Clohessy's deep cross. Byfield then drove a free kick into the wall as Gills tried in vain to get back into the game.
Cureton put the finishing touches on another neat move for the home side when he added a fourth goal, striking a low shot past Bullock into the bottom left hand corner from six yards. Leon Johnson then cleared another effort away from Stockley before Colchester made it five.
The goal came from a set play corner taken by Kevin Watson. His ball in was cleared by Harris but only as far as former Gillingham loan player Wayne Brown who coolly drilled the ball home from just inside the box.
Bullock saved Gills minutes later when he tipped an effort by Yeates round the post for a corner. Moments later Bullock denied Yeates with a good save before he was called into action again, this time tipping an effort by Richard Garcia round the post.
Colchester were awarded a free kick after Johnson was adjudged to have fouled Garcia outside the box. Brown beat the wall with his blistering effort but Bullock was not to be beaten and again tipped the ball round the post.
Colchester continued to lay siege on the Gillingham goal. Chris Iwelumo forced Bullock into a save before Cox needed to be quick to clear Watson's ball to the near post.
Up the other end Crofts almost netted a consolation for Gills but he could only head Clohessy's cross over the bar from six yards. That turned out to be the final move on goal as the whistle sounded for full time.
Gills will be desperately disappointed with this result, which sees them slip into the bottom four once again. Tony Bullock should be applauded though, as his efforts restored some embarrassment by keeping the score below double figures.
Colchester: Davison. Stockley, Brown, Chilvers, White, Halford (Garcia, 71), Danns (Izzet, 72), Watson, Yeates, Cureton (Duguid, 74), Iwelumo.
Subs: Baldwin, Gerken.
Gillingham: Bullock, Clohessy, Cox, Johnson, Williams, Crofts, Spiller (Harris, 55), Flynn, Smith (Jackman, 54), Jarvis, Byfield.
Subs: Brown, Rose, Saunders.
Bookings: Flynn, Johnson (Gillingham).
Attendance: 3, 801
Referee: Mr. J Singh
Report by: Simon Ongley
