Fleetwood Town maintained their unbeaten home record with a narrow 1-0 home victory against Gillingham at Highbury on Saturday afternoon.

Graham Alexander's men came into the Skybet League One fixture having come off the back of a 3-2 defeat to Preston North End, however a goal early on into the game from new recruit Tom Hitchcock sealed three points for the Cod Army, in a tightly-contested Skybet League One fixture.

Josh Morris found his angled shot well saved by Gills keeper Stephen Bywater, in the opening two minutes or so.

Fleetwood started the game in blistering fashion, and took an early lead in the third minute from new signing Tom Hitchock.

Hitchcock, who signed from the MK Dons on a three month loan, 24 hours ago, sweetly struck a left-footed effort into the top corner beyond Stephen Bywater.

Three minutes later, Gillingham found their first opening, as John Egan saw his effort well saved by the advancing Chris Maxwell, who got down well to save.

Maxwell then had to keep out Cody McDonald's effort, as Gillingham looked to get back into the game, on a rather chilly afternoon on the Fylde Coast.

Up the other end, Fleetwood seemed to threaten more, with first Stephen Dobbie, and then midfielder Gareth Evans going close for the Cod Army, as the first half progressed.

Hitchcock was then denied a second goal in Fleetwood colours, with Bywater clawing his skidding effort away, with 27 minutes on the clock at Highbury.

Gavin Hoyte then saw his effort deflected off Cody McDonald, which was hastily clawed to safety by Maxwell, with the help of his defenders.

Doug Loft then saw two chances go a miss in quick succession, having first seen his left-footed effort well saved in the 32nd minute, before being kept out again in the 37th minute, as Fleetwood hung onto their lead into the half-time interval.

As proceedings resumed, Gillingham looked to start the second half how they finished the first, with the lively McDonald heading straight at Maxwell in the 48th minute.

Tom Hitchcox then dragged his effort wide of the far post, on the hour mark, after some neat build up play between Dobbie and Morris.

Two minutes later, Egan saw his right-footed shot denied again by Welsh keeper Maxwell.

Northern Irish full-back Conor McLaughlin then turned provider having assisted fellow defender Nathan Pond, who headed just over Bywarter's crossbar, with 66 minutes played.

Doug Loft then glanced the ball just over for the Kent outfit, with time running out for Peter Taylor's side.

Gareth Evans then whipped in a teasing cross, which was met by Josh Morris, though the Blackburn Rovers loanee saw his effort pushed aside by Bywater, after 72 minutes.

Town midfielder Evans again was on hand to turn up the volume, as he saw his right-footed rasping drive flash across the Gillingham goal, just missing several Cod Army players in the process.

Substitute Antoni Sarcevic could have perhaps added another for Fleetwood, having received the ball from a poor pass from Gills keeper Bywater, with the shot stopper redeeming himself and swiftly keeping out Sarcevic's right-footed drive , with 10 minutes of the game left.

Despite late pressure from Gillingham, Fleetwood hung onto claim all three points.