John Collins leads the Fulham backlash

Goals by player-coach John Collins and substitute Luis Boa-Morte eased First Division champions-elect Fulham a step closer the Premiership at Priestfield.

Gillingham had stuck to their task well against the leaders before Collins broke the deadlock with a quality finish with 20 minutes left.

Boa-Morte put the result beyond doubt three minutes from time with another good strike for his 17th goal of the season, set up by Fulham man-of-the-match Lee Clark.

Fulham had the ball in the net after only seven minutes, but referee Steve Baines ruled it out for handball.

Gillingham went close early on themselves when Ty Gooden shot wide of Maik Taylor's right-hand post. Then Marcus Browning put Paul Shaw in, but Taylor was quickly off his line to smother.

Then Fulham went close when topscorer Louis Saha flashed a header wide on 18 minutes before

Gillingham were again denied by Taylor, who saved from Browning at the expense of a corner.

Barry Hayles mis-kicked in front of goal when it looked easier to score and then Saha went past two Gillingham challenges but curled his shot wide of the target.

Clark, who was involved in almost every Fulham move, then shot wide before Andy Melville brought Gillingham's Vince Bartram to another save with almost the last kick of the first half.

In the second half Gillingham started positively with Marlon King going close before setting up Nicky Southall, who just failed to get on the end of a great cross.

Kit Symons was booked for foul on Paul Shaw who then saw his header saved by Taylor as he tried to convert a long cross from Mark Patterson.

Shaw and King were replaced in a double substitution just before the hour with Carlos Sava and Iffi Onuora. Fulham had Sean Davies carried off on a stretcher but with Clark prompting the visitors they held on well.

Gillingham: Bartram, Patterson, Smith, Ashby, Southall, Gooden,
Browning, King (Onuora 60), Pennock, Hope, Shaw (Asaba 61).
Subs Not Used: Nosworthy, Rose, James.
Booked: Ashby.

Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Symons, Clark,
John Collins, Davis (Neilson 68), Goldbaek (Boa Morte 64),
Saha (Riedle 84), Hayles.
Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Moller.
Booked: Symons.

Ref: S Baines (Chesterfield).
Att: 9,931