After a bright start the Shrimps went a goal down on 20 minutes when Mark Bentley was gifted a free header at the far post and directed his effort past the right hand of Barry Roche.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 when former Rushden and Diamonds striker Simeon Jackson was given too much space on the edge of the area to turn quickly and produce a superb low strike past Roche.

Jackson continued to torment the Shrimps and added a third for Gillingham nine minutes from the break when he ran past Jim Bentley and drilled a low shot past Barry Roche's left hand.

The home striker should then have sealed his hat-trick in first half injury time when he ran past David Artell but saw his shot superbly saved by Roche who has kept his side's pride intact with a string of fine saves.

Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy made two half time substitutions with Neil Wainwright and Aaron Taylor coming on and the Shrimps produced chances themselves for Taylor and Wayne Curtis who shot straight at Royce.

But then Gillingham hit top gear again to score twice in six minutes. Nicky Southall made it 4-0 with a bizarre goal when he volleyed Barry Roche's clearance back past the Morecambe keeper and the ball trickled over the Shrimps' line.

Then with 10 minutes to go substitute Mark McCammon made it 5-0 with a neat finish after a neat one-two with Andy Barcham.

Morecambe: Roche, Parrish, Bentley, Artell, Adams; McCann (rep Wainwright 45), Stanley, Drummond, Hunter (rep Taylor 45), Curtis; Howe. Subs: Davies, O'Carroll, McStay.

Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, King, Bentley, Mulligan, Jackson, Southall, Weston, Mills, Jarrett. Subs: Lewis, Richards, Julian, McCammon, Barcham.

Ref: M Thorpe.