The big defender had last tasted first-team football with Colchester in early September, then an ankle injury to put him out of contention for the next few weeks.

He was then declared surplus to requirements at the Essex club, despite skippering the side, and is delighted to have got his loan spell at Bristol Rovers off to a winning start.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more in my first game. Playing football is all about winning,” said Baldwin.

“It’s fantastic being at a club who want me to play for them and I really enjoyed it. I’m grateful to Rovers for giving me the chance.

“I was playing every week at Colchester and then got injured. They brought someone in on loan to cover me and he’s done really well.

“I’ve got no qualms about that because it’s part and parcel of football, but I needed to move on to try and get games somewhere.”

Normally a central defender, Baldwin slotted in at right-back in the absence of the suspended Carl Regan and immediately looked at home, helping to organise a back line which rarely looked like conceding.

That was a welcome contrast to some of the leaky performances of the last couple of months.

“I’ve played at right-back 20 or 30 times before. I’ll play wherever the manager wants me to,” said Baldwin.

“One of the things he said to me was that he wanted me to be noisy and help organise things at the back. Communication and talking is a big part of my game anyway and hopefully I can help the team by doing that.”

With the wind at their backs in the opening period, Rovers soon got on top in terms of possession and territory, and translated it into a 17th-minute goal.

Chris Dickson’s overhead kick was blocked by Gills keeper Simon Royce, but when the ball ran loose it was played back across the box by Danny Coles for Chris Lines to plant home his third goal in the last four games.

The home side continued to have the better of things but were unable to add to their lead and Gillingham’s leveller shortly before the break – though barely deserved – was something of a wind-assisted wonder strike.

Winger Andy Barcham cut in and let fly from outside the box and the shot, hit into the gale, dipped over keeper Mikkel Andersen and just under the bar. Had it been at the other end, it would doubtless have kept on rising.

With the scores level at half-time, despite Gillingham’s lack of an attacking threat, you could sense that many of the home fans feared a second-half onslaught from the visitors when they had the breeze at their backs.

But it failed to materialise and Rovers could have increased their lead soon after the interval, Royce punching away another 20-yarder from Lines after Jo Kuffour’s shot had been blocked.

Kuffour had a growing impact as the game wore on and a good through ball presented substitute Darryl Duffy with a one-on-one opportunity. But the Scot’s first touch was too strong and Royce did well to advance and smother the chance.

It looked like the clock might run out on the home side’s attempt to force a winner, but with 10 minutes left Andy Williams was harrying for the ball near the byeline and as defender Matt Fry went to ground, he handled in the process.

Up stepped Jeff Hughes to fire home a low spot kick to Royce’s right as the keeper dived the other way.

Only then did Gillingham really start to go for it. But despite a couple of scares – Stuart Campbell clearing off the line following a corner and Byron Anthony getting in a vital block on substitute Simeon Jackson’s shot – Rovers held firm to make it two wins on the bounce.

“Weather like that tends to level things out between teams but I thought we deserved the win and edged the game in terms of our determination. It was a fantastic three points,” said Baldwin.

“It might not have been the best game in the world but we still showed at times that we can pop the ball about.

“I’ve only been here a few days but I’ve loved what I’ve seen so far. They seem like a good bunch of lads and they have welcomed me in. To still be up there in the table after losing five league games on the spin says a lot about the team.”