Defender John Egan was thrilled to head home the winner on Saturday.

His 79 minute goal – his third in two games – booked the Gills a place in the Johnstone’s Paint area final.

“To get the win first and foremost and to get the clean sheet is a great feeling, the goal is a very good bonus,” said the Irishman, who struck twice in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Port Vale.

“It was a scrappy game and we all worked hard for each other. We grinded it out and luckily we got over the line.

“They set out to press us from the off and we set out to get in their faces and to not let them play. It made for a bit of a scrappy game but sometimes you have to do that and grind through it, stay mentally strong and stay switched on at the back and hope the chance will come. Luckily for us it did.”

Egan had only ever scored one goal in his professional career before this season.

“That’s the second one Michael Doughty has now swung in for me,” said the former Sunderland defender.

“The ball came in, I got a half yard on my man and dropped off him. I thought I would head it and see where it went and it flew into the back of the net. It is a good feeling to score goals.

“That’s two last week and now another. I hope it can continue and I get a few more this season.”

Egan has now joined fellow centre-back Leon Legge on three goals for the season, as the Gills continue to hurt teams with set-pieces.

“We are working on them in training and it is no fluke that there are a few going in,” he said.

“Sometimes games are tight and if chances aren’t falling for you sometimes a set piece can win a game. It has won many a big game in the past. It will win many a big game in the future for any team.

“It is an important part of the game. If we keep working on them and have the hunger and desire to get to the ball first, hopefully we will score a few more.”