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Subs: Crichton, Sutch, Jackson, Llewellyn, Libbra.
Goals: Roberts (81, 90)
TWO goals in the last nine minutes from striker Iwan Roberts ended City's three game losing streak as Nigel Worthington's side battled to a well-deserved 2-0 victory at Gillingham.
City started with a 4-5-1 formation, Iwan Roberts left to plough a lonely furrow up front as City attempted to stifle a Gillingham side who raced into a 4-0 lead in the corresponding fixture last season before eventually winning 4-3.
Gillingham had the better of the early exchanges and Mark Saunders should have put the home side in front on 12 minutes, when his first effort was blocked by Steen Nedergaard and the Gills man somehow stabbed the rebound wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
City survived another scare in the 17th minute when Guy Ipoua went down in the box after a challenge from Malky Mackay, but the referee waved away loud Gillingham appeals for a penalty.
In a quiet first half City's best chance came in the 39th minute when after good work from Paul McVeigh the ball was swung into the box by Mark Rivers and Iwan Roberts' first-time effort rebounded to safety off the post.
In the second half City saw the woodwork deny them again when Phil Mulryne's 62nd-minute 30-yard drive struck the outside of Vince Bartram's post with the Gills keeper well beaten.
And incredibly six minutes later they were frustrated by the woodwork for the sixth time in two games when a neat interchange between Roberts and McVeigh saw the latter shoot against the post.
But City's improved second-half showing finally brought reward nine minutes from time when Butters' poor clearance from Adam Drury's cross fell to McVeigh and he crossed superbly for Roberts to convert with a diving header at the far post.
Gills substitute and former Canary Robert Taylor nearly spoiled the City celebrations in the 86th minute when he beat Robert Green to the ball but his looping header fell just wide.
Then in the 89th minute a clearance from sub Chris Llewellyn found Roberts in space up front and the big man superbly held off Butters before rolling the ball past Bartram for City's second.
