RONNIE JEPSON was remaining cool despite seeing his Gillingham side complete their first back-to-back league wins in nine months, but admitted feeling pleased for his team.

He said: “It’s special for the players because they’ve worked hard. After the Colchester defeat we worked on the training ground. There’s a better approach about the place which we want and which we’ll get.

“You could see on the park that the boys are there pulling together and giving everything they’ve got.

“It’s important we get away from the bottom four. It’s been difficult at times with the budget and having to reduce the playing staff, it’s a difficult time for everybody.”

Port Vale skipper Tony Dibbing was sent off on 10 minutes for dissent, but when Tom Williams then missed a penalty, the Gills’ game plan was thrown into confusion.

Jepson said: “We missed the penalty and against 10 men it gives them a little lift again and I didn’t know whether to stick or twist. I couldn’t wait for half time to come.”

Of Neil Harris’ opening goal he said: “It was a great strike and I’m pleased for him. He’s been under a bit of pressure with not scoring goals, so to get us off the mark with a strike like that was fantastic.”

“I organised a few things and we were a bit more positive and had a little bit more movement in the forward areas where we could hurt them and the lads came out as comfortable winners in the end.”

Jepson still remembers his time at Port Vale with fondness, but was more concerned with his team’s performance than his own history.

He added: “That had no significance on the game, all I was interested in was getting three points for Gillingham football club.

“I’ve got happy memories at Port Vale under John Rudge but it wasn’t about Ronnie Jepson out there it was about the club getting three points and that’s what we did.”