Hartlepool coasted to a comfortable victory to ease their relegation worries and heap more misery on Gillingham.
Two goals in five, first-half minutes put Pool in control.
Andy Monkhouse scored the first in the 21st minute when he curled a left-footed shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Then Joel Porter beat two Gills defenders and chipped keeper Derek Stillie to cap a fine solo effort.
Gillingham were awarded a penalty after Arran Lee-Barrett fouled Simeon Jackson in the area, but Lee-Barrett produced a brilliant save from Adam Miller's spot-kick.
Four minutes later it was 3-0, as Sam Collins headed in Jamie McCunnie's corner off the foot of a post.
And, in added time, McCunnie got the fourth with a curling free-kick from the left flank.