Gillingham 2 Tranmere Rovers 0 – Manager Gareth Ainsworth’s reaction following a home win but an injury to goalscorer Ronan Hale

Gillingham striker Ronan Hale created the opener on Saturday but went off injured after scoring the second.

Manager Gareth Ainsworth gave an update on the striker’s injury after declaring the performance as up there as one of the best at home since he’d taken charge as manager.

Report: Gillingham 2 Tranmere 0

Hale put a cross on a plate for Logan Dobbs to head in on 68 minutes and then combined with substitute Garath McCleary to score the second, getting inbetween the goalkeeper and defender to tap the ball home.

On doing so, he got a kick, which led to him being replaced immediately after his 80th-minute goal.

“He had a nasty kick after he put it in,” said Gills boss Ainsworth. “He's burst through. It's a great one-two with Garath. You want Ronan on the end of things in the box. He's dynamite around there.

“His ankle has swelled up quite badly. We're going to have to make sure that we look after him but I can take a kick. It's the muscle pulls that we've had lately and the soft tissue stuff that really is annoying as a football manager. Kicks are part and parcel of the game.

“Harry (Waldock) [also] came off. He had an upset stomach during the game. That was tough as well. He battled through it. But at least it's not a pull or anything. I'll take a hopefully non-serious illness over a pulled hamstring or something. Hopefully he'll be recovering as well.”

Before his goal, Hale almost caught the keeper out with a free-kick that he launched goalwards from inside his own half. It only just went over the bar.

Ainsworth said: “I think only Ronan would try that, maybe [James] Brophy.

“I’m gutted he got an injury, but his cross was great with his left foot for the goal. Also his all-round endeavour where he's played a couple