by Luke Cawdell

Martin Allen was in dreamland after victory over Accrington on Saturday at Priestfield put Gillingham eight points clear of second-placed Port Vale and 10 clear of the play-offs places.

Just five weeks remain between now and the end of the season and the Gills boss, pictured, said: “It’s amazing. To hear the excitement of the supporters at the end and to find out we are eight points clear and then 10 clear of fourth with only six left. It’s surreal and I have to pinch myself.

“Seventeen years I have been waiting for this. Seventeen years of coaching, training courses, books, videos, DVDs, coaching trips to observe other coaches and managers.

“I have always been the mad dog fighting to keep clubs out of relegation and all of a sudden we are looking towards what could be a fantastic Easter.

“We have been at the top of this league now for eight months. I have been lucky to get some clubs into the play-offs but to be top of the league, unbelievable.”

Gillingham’s success this year has been built on solid foundations and the team claimed yet another clean sheet on Saturday – their 16th of the season so far in League 2.

Allen said: “You could single out the goalkeeper and the centre-backs but the full-backs have got to stop the crosses, the central midfield players have got to stop the balls into feet and the wide players have got to track the full-backs.

“The centre-forwards have got to stop the centre-backs getting the ball back easy, they have a real job to do. It’s been a team effort.”