Andrew Crofts celebrated signing a new contract in style as his thumping header earned struggling Gillingham three vital points against Plymouth.

The young midfielder, who penned a four-and-a-half year deal on the morning of the game, grabbed his second goal of the season just after the hour to boost his side's survival hopes.

Plymouth had their chances, with Scott Taylor spurning a hat-trick of opportunities, but they could not find a way past Steve Banks in the Gills goal.

Argyle's miserable afternoon was compounded when Paul Connolly was sent off for an X-rated challenge on Darren Byfield at the death.

The home side made two changes from the side beaten 1-0 at Portsmouth in the FA Cup, with Chris Hope and Alan Pouton coming in for Barry Ashby and Matt Bodkin.

Plymouth, who were also knocked out of the competition to Premiership opposition in Everton, recalled recent signing Taylor to their attack.

Argyle peppered the Gillingham goal in the opening stages, with Bjarni Gudjonsson drilling a free-kick wide from 30 yards and Paul Connolly trying his luck from distance, before Taylor forced a fine save from Banks after cutting in from the right.

But the Gills, who started the day four points adrift of fourth from bottom Cardiff, weathered the storm and hit back with pressure of their own.

Darius Henderson dragged a shot inches past the right-hand post, while Alan Pouton sent a header straight into the arms of Romain Larrieu from a Nicky Southall cross shortly afterwards.

Micky Evans failed to trouble Banks with a low drive from the edge of the box, while at the other end former player-manager Andy Hessenthaler fired over the crossbar as the first 45 minutes ended goalless.

Plymouth's leading scorer Paul Wotton had Banks scrambling to keep out a fierce 30-yard effort at the start of the second half, before Taylor volleyed into the keeper's arms as the visitors looked the side more likely to break the deadlock.

However, it was youngster Crofts who popped up to grab the opener in the 61st minute.

Southall's low cross from the right picked out the 20-year-old at the far post, and he thumped a diving header into the bottom corner.

The Gills, buoyed by the goal, continued to push forward, and came close to a second through Henderson, but his volleyed attempt went inches wide.

The Pilgrims rarely threatened as time ticked away, and after Gillingham substitute Bodkin screwed a shot past the post from just inside the area, their misery was compounded when Connolly was dismissed.

Teams:

Gillingham: Banks, Southall, Cox, Hope, Rose, Hessenthaler (Bodkin 73), Smith, Pouton, Crofts, Henderson (Hills 81), Byfield.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Beckwith, Leon Johnson.

Booked: Byfield.

Goals: Crofts 61.

Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Coughlan, Gilbert, Gudjonsson, Wotton, Friio, Hodges (Capaldi 75), Evans, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Lasley, Norris, Keith, Adams.

Sent Off: Connolly (90).

Booked: Coughlan, Doumbe.

Att: 8,451

Ref: J Singh (Middlesex).