Pools put in a convincing display to take all three points from this afternoon's game with struggling Gillingham at The Vic with a comfortable 4-0 victory.

A goal from Andy Monkhouse, a stunning solo strike from Joel Porter, a Sam Collins effort and a curling free kick from Jamie McCunnie - as well as a penalty save from Arran Lee-Barrett - sealed the victory for Pools in what proved an entertaining clash.

Despite a slightly scrappy start to the game - determined in large by the extremely blustery conditions - Pools looked dangerous on the attack in the early periods.

Andy Monkhouse was clearly out to impress in his role on the left wing and, with the lively front pairing of Michael Mackay and Joel Porter, Pools looked set to score goals.

But the goals took some time to come as Gillingham put up some early resistance and tested Arran Lee-Barrett with an early chance on goal.

Good work by Adam Miller down the left wing saw the ball whipped in with pace and the big Pools' stopper had to block before Sam Collins, who enjoyed another solid game at the back, rose to head clear.

Dennis Oli, who scored both of Gillingham's goals in the reverse of this fixture earlier this term, almost opened the scoring this afternoon when he rifled in from the edge of the area but Lee-Barrett held and that was The Gills' last real chance of the opening half.

Once Pools found their footing in the game, Gillingham were left to chase as Wilson's men really turned on the style, with some impressive flowing football.

With Monkhouse and porter at the heart of the majority of moves, their pair were responsible for Pools going in 2-0 at the break.

The pair combined well down the left wing with Monkhouse threading a teasing ball square into the box for the Aussie striker but on this occasion he was denied by a great challenge by Simon King.

Minutes later and Porter fed Antony Sweeney with a brilliant flicked ball which allowed the midfielder to power into the box, only to see his final ball edge over the bar from a good position.

Sweeney had the ball in the net shortly after when a ball in from the right by Michael Nelson led to a scramble which finished with Sweeney forcing the ball over the line but referee Mr Evans ruled the effort out and Pools had to try again.

And try they did, with some really pleasing play - as the visitng defence failed to clear their lines and allowed the ball to roll clear on the edge of the box, Monkhouse nipped in to take possession before turning and executing a perfectly-weighted chip over Stillie and into the top right hand corner of the net, with just over twenty minutes on the clock.

The goal gave Pools even more impetus to push forward and Michael Nelson was the next to try his luck when he rose highest to power a header at goal from a Sweeney cross but his effort cannoned against the angle of the crossbar and was cleared out of the danger area.

And then Joel Porter made sure he picked up the headlines from today's game with a brilliant solo effort.

Porter picked up possession on the edge of the area, turned his man before powering his way goalwards and, after skipping past a last-ditch effort from King, the Aussie striker went in one-one-one with Stillie before calmly lifting the ball over the out-stretched keeper and making it 2-0.

As Pools dominated the remainder of the opening half, the visitors had little possession and were left chasing back as Wilson's men looked for a third.

And, as the half came to a close, Monkhouse went close to notching his second of the game when he rose highest to glance a header at goal from a Jamie McCunnie corner kick but the winger's effort was cleared off the line by a cluster of Gillingham defenders.

The second half proved more of a battle for Pools as conditions worsened and the visitors dug deeper but while Gillingham did enjoy more possession in the final forty-five, it was Wilson's men who looked more likely to add to the scoresheet.

Michael Nelson had his second chance to find the net early in the second period when he latched on to a McCunnie corner kick but his header was blocked clear by Stillie.

Ritchie Humphreys turned back the clock with a great surging run deep into the opposition box but as he squared the ball for the in-running Mackay, Stillie intercepted to deny the goal.

The visitors went on to enjoy a spell of pressure, with the main talking point of the game and a saved penalty kick.

Adam Miller whipped in a great free kick from the left channel only to be denied by a great save from Arran Lee-Barrett.

And just minutes later and the pair came head to head again; when Simeon Jackson pushed his way into the box, he lifted the ball over the Pools' keeper only to be brought down deep inside the area and referee Mr Evans pointed straight to the spot.

But before they could worry about the penalty, there was a heart-stopping moment for Pools fans - if Lee-Barrett had seen red for his challenge and no sub keeper on the bench, who would replace him in goal?!

Fortunately Lee-Barrett was only booked for the challenge and faced Miller with the spot kick - and what a relief it was to Pools that he did.

When Miller powered in his penalty kick, the big keeper was instantly elevated from villain to hero as he pulled off a great block to get down and push wide at the post.

And as things really did turn around for Pools - a corner at the other end was put into the centre of the area by Jamie McCunnie and Sam Collins reacted first to get up and nod the ball past Stillie and into the bottom right hand corner of the net - his debut strike for the Club and Pools' third of the afternoon.

In the final minutes of additional time, Jamie McCunnie, who was in fine form this afternoon, curled in a great free kick from the left side of the area - his right-footed kick curled over the wall, past the keeper and into the top right hand corner of Stillie's net to make it 4-0 to Pools.

The visitors battled away for a late consolation from the game but were given short shrift from a determined Pools back line and Danny Wilson's men ran out deserved 4-0 winners.

After building on Tuesday night's win over Oldham Athletic with another this afternoon, the Pools' boss will be looking for his side to make it three in a row when Huddersfield Town visit The Vic on Tuesday night.

Pools: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys (Elliott 82), Sweeney, Liddle, Boland (Foley 75), Monkhouse (Robson 79), Porter, Mackay

Subs Not Used: Lee, Craddock

Gillingham: Stillie, King, Crofts, Facey, Jackson (Mulligan 81), Oli (Griffiths 60), Nutter, Miller, Fuller, Maher, Coz

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Lewis, Bygrave