Mark McCammon returned to form with an impressive four goal haul as Gillingham hit Eastbourne for five.

Despite controlling the play, eleven minutes had elapsed before the home side conjured a goal scoring opportunity, Rashid Yussuff played a neat one-two with Oli but visitor's keeper Michael Jordan was quick off the blocks to smother the danger.

On twenty minutes Adam Miller's strong run through the midfield gave Palmer space to get behind the Bourne defence. He sent a teasing ball across the face of goal but neither Oli nor McCammon could find a finish.

Four minutes later Stuart Lewis collected a lay-off from Miller and brought a good save from Jordan with a 22 yard drive before Eastbourne took the lead in farcical circumstances. Keeper Simon Royce, on his return from injury, mistimed John Nutter's back pass presenting Matt Smart with the simplest of finishes into an empty net.

Eastbourne's joy was short-lived as barely 60 seconds later, the home side pulled back on level terms, great persistence from Lewis creating an opening for Mark McCammon to crash in on from a yard out.

On 29 minutes McCammon doubled his account, collecting a deep pass from the left before rifling a fine strike into the top right corner.

Gillingham's third followed less than a minute later as McCammon turned provider, teeing up Adam Miller to blast a low shot in off the upright.

Mark McCammon completed a first half hat-trick in the 37^th minute running onto Chris Palmer's ball from deep before slotting beyond the advancing Jordan to claim his third goal in an eleven minute spell.

There was still time for Stuart Lewis to twice go close in the closing stages of the half, while Yussuff placed a low effort wide after great vision by Jackman, as the Gills ended the half in total control.

HT 4-1

Eastbourne's resilience was broken down once again in the 53^rd minute, Adam Miller shooting from the edge of the box and McCammon on hand to steer in his fourth goal of the game at the back post.

Within seconds it should have been six as Miller curled a cute finishing goalwards from just out side the area only to se it drift wide of Jordan's right hand upright.

The arrival of subs Gavin Grant and Dean Rance, for Oli and Yussuff took some of the sting out of Gillingham's attack while the introduction of Joe Benjamin gave the Boro forward line an added dimension, leading to a good spell of pressure from the Sussex side.

In the final 20 minutes Chris Palmer flashed a low drive from the right of goal wide of the near post while Simon Royce climbed well to deny a well-struck 25 yard free kick.

Mark McCammon left the field to deserved applause with 10 minutes remaining, his replacement Charlie Stimson looked to have set-up a sixth goal soon after but Grant's shot from six yards struck the post and rebounded to safety.

Late in the half Stimson fed Adam Miller to sweep in from the centre of goal but the Boro custodian got down well to gather his effort at the near post.

Gillingham: Simon Royce, Chris Palmer, Callum Davies, Connor Essam, John Nutter, Danny Jackman, Stuart Lewis, Adam Miller, Rashid Yussuff (Gavin Grant 60), Dennis Oli (Dean Rance 60), Mark McCammon (Charlie Stimson 80).

Subs not used: Conor Quinn, Jack Evans.

Eastbourne Boro: Michael Jordan, Ollie Rowe, Billy Franks (Brett Patton 60), Rhys Whyborne, Darren Baker, James Fraser, Matt Smart, Simon Weatherstone, Ross Treleavan, Ashley Robinson (Joseph Benjamin 63), Lee Davidson (Andy Hales 81)

Subs not used: Billy Medlock, Michael Racher.