Gillingham boss Mark Bonner said his side’s 1-0 victory at Morecambe was “just the best result” at the end of a gruelling week.
Substitute George Lapslie sealed the points with a 77th-minute finish from close range to earn his side a second successive league win this season.
In a game of few clear chances Lapslie made the different when he volleyed home Jayden Clarke’s cross from close range.
Bonner, whose team were beaten 3-1 at Swansea in the Carabao Cup in midweek, said: “We are all buzzing with the win.
“This has been the most brutal week we could have had with a trip to Swansea in midweek and an eight-hour journey to get here last night and win a game of football with a late goal makes it just the best result.
“There can be loads of dissection of the performance but that is for Monday. We didn’t show a lot of quality in lots of moments in the game but in the main we were comfortable. We got better in the second half and carried more of a threat and created some good chances and scored a really good goal.”
Morecambe started the game the better and produced the best moments of the first half.
Ben Tollitt tested Jake Turner with a shot from the edge of the area before Jamie Stott’s close-range effort forced the Gills’ keeper into a neat save low to his right.
Derek Adams’ side also went close in the 42nd minute when Gwion Edwards’ strike fizzed inches wide of the left-hand post.
It was Gillingham who took the lead though and Oliver Hawkins almost made it 2-0 in the final stages when he headed against the crossbar as the home side pushed bodies forward.
Morecambe manager Adams was left frustrated as his side fell to their second successive 1-0 league defeat.
He said: “It was a much better attacking performance from us than last week at Walsall, especially in the final third and we are all disappointed not to have got anything from the game.
“We had players that were willing to get beyond, shoot and get the ball in the penalty area and over the 90 minutes it was much improved.
“We definitely gave Gillingham a problem today but we can still do better. We are improving but just need to be a bit more positive with our passing and just need that killer touch in front of goal.”
