But Rotherham, who could only manage a late consolation effort from Will Hoskins, are now deeper in trouble at the foot of the table and on the basis of this dismal display they need a miracle to still be playing in the Championship next season.
|
But it was the perfect result for new Gills manager Stan Ternent who took charge of the team for the first time at Priestfield since his appointment earlier this month.
However, dire was too good a word to describe the action in the opening half-hour as both sides showed exactly why they are struggling at the bottom of the table.
The ball spent no more than a matter of seconds on the ground as the teams simply took turns in launching aimless punts upfield to isolated attackers.
The boredom was finally punctuated on 30 minutes when Gillingham won a corner, although it would have been easier for Mamady Sidibe to tee up strike-partner Darren Byfield just six yards from goal instead of hitting his cross into a covering defender.
From the resulting set-piece, Barry Ashby found space in the box and hit a sweet half-volley from 12 yards which smacked against the Rotherham post before being once again hoofed to the opposite end of the pitch.
That was about as exciting as it got in the first-half, but referee Rob Styles ensured he will not be receiving any Christmas cards from the Gillingham area when he turned down a penalty appeal by the home side.
Byfield went down dramatically claiming a push in the back, but Styles was unimpressed and that earned him an animated chat with Ternant as the players and officials trooped off at half-time.
It was hard to imagine that the entertainment value could be much worse after the break, but the game was equally lacking in spark until Hope's goal on 70 minutes.
Millers goalkeeper Mike Pollitt did well to punch clear Nicky Southall's original corner, but his defence failed to push up quickly enough and Hope had space to loop a header into the net from six yards after Paul Smith had played the ball back into the danger area from the edge of the box.
Ternant may have expected a nervous finish, but Jarvis eased the tension with a second goal to seal the win on 81 minutes.
Rotherham defender Chris Swailes made a hash of a clearance deep inside his own box and Jarvis reacted quickest to race forward and convert sweetly
|
Rotherham finally woke up and Junior hit the post with a swivelling shot from close range before sub Hoskins found the net in the final minute when he lofted a shot over keeper Paul Gallacher after racing clear of the Gills defence.
But there was still time for another home goal as Vernazza sliced horribly 25 yards from goal and watched in horror as the ball sailed over the helpless Pollitt.