The Gills, who beat Newport last time out, extended Harrogate’s run without a League Two win to a 17th match and inflicted an eighth straight home defeat on the sorry hosts, who have now gone 11 hours and 55 minutes without scoring in front of their own fans.

On-loan Ipswich goalkeeper Henry Gray made a string of fine saves to keep Simon Weaver’s men level going into the break, denying Bradley Dack, Sam Gale, Garath McCleary and Robbie McKenzie.

At the other end, Lewis Cass had the ball in the visitors’ net, but his effort was disallowed for a foul.

New Zealand Under-20 international Gray was eventually beaten four minutes after the interval when centre-back Masterson finished firmly from 10 yards after Josh Andrews had headed down Max Clark’s right-wing cross.

The lead was doubled in the 55th minute after Andrews tangled with Chanse Headman and won his side a penalty that Little blasted low to Gray’s right.

Frustrated home fans chanted “we want Weaver out” before substitute Vokes added the third in the 84th minute, rifling into the roof of the net from eight yards after McCleary had unsettled the Harrogate defence.