A LATE, late goal for the Brewers put them in poll place for promotion.
Tom Naylor's injury time winner was just what the Brewers fans wanted.But it had been a long battle.
Albion pushed forward in the first five minutes and Damien McCrory was the first to test Stuart Nelson in the Gills goal with a crisp volley.
On 10 minutes Lucas Akins fired a shot over after being well found by Matty Palmer.
Gillingham were forced to make two changes in the first 15 minutes, which unsettled the visitors.
Tom Naylor had two good shooting opportunities but couldn't test the keeper with either.
A snapshot from Dominic Samuel was the first time the Gills threatened after 21 minutes.
After 35 minutes Cody McDonald should have opened the scoring but failed to test McLaughlin after being put through on goal.
Albion grabbed the lead they dearly wanted on 44 minutes when Lucas Akins popped up at the far post to prod in after Mark Duffy cut through the Gills defence.
Half-time: 1-0
Gillingham started the second half on the front foot.
Doug Loft tested John McLaughlin with a sharp shot after the break and from the corner Cody McDonald equalised for the Gills on 49 minutes.
Samuel had a good shooting opportunity on 63 minutes but shot wildly.
The Brewers moved up a gear in the last quarter and began to threaten again.
On 76 mins a sharp turn and shot from Akins was blocked as Albion pushed forward.
The Brewers kept looking for the winner and got from a corner in injury time through Naylor.
Full-time: 2-1
BREWERS: McLaughlin, Edwards, Cansdell-Sherriff, Mousinho, Beavon, Akins, McCrory, Naylor, Duffy, Palmer, Choudhury Subs: Bywater, Reilly, Weir, Butcher for Beavon 75 mins), Harness, Walker (for Palmer 85), O'Connor (for Duffy 90 mins)
GILLS: Nelson, Garmston, Egan, Ehmer, Hessenthaler, McDonald, Samuel, Aaron Morris, Dack, Wright, Oshilaja Subs: Glenn Morris, Jackson, Loft (for Morris 15 mins), Williams, Donnelly (for Samuel 74 mins), Norris , Dickenson (for Garmston 14 mins)
Attendance; 5,388