Wanderers took time out from the struggles in the Premiership to ease past first division Gillingham to reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
However it took a fortuitous opener in the 24th minute for Greek international Stelios’ first goal for the club to put them on their way to victory.
Following that, Wanderers failed to capitalise on their dominance with an emphatic goal show.
They did eventually get a second, Denmark’s Henrik Pedersen getting on the score-sheet.
Also for the first time this season, but even with the much heralded goalscoring talents of Brazilian Mario Jardel leading the frontline, it was only late in the game before Wanderers imposed any real threat on the Gillingham defence.
Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce made six changes but there was still enough experience and talent in the side to prove a formidable challenge for the first division outfit.
In the space of a minute Gillingham suffered a double dose of disappointment when Paul Shaw looked as if he had headed them ahead from a John Mills cross only to see the effort ruled out by a linesman’s offside flag.
Within 60 seconds Wanderers were gifted the lead when Hunt’s cross was sent looping into the penalty area by Hills deflection. The bounce of the ball completely deceived Keeper Brown as it floated over his head and Stelios was on hand to head in his first goal for the club.
Earlier, Wanderers had most of the running in front of a sparse Reebok crowd with midfield man Ivan Campo's efforts deserving better as he saw defence splitting passes wasted by poor control, firstly by Pederson and then Stelios.
On the stroke of half time Jardel looked set to increase the home side’s lead as he moved onto Pedersen’s cross only for Hill to hoop the ball to safety off the goalline.
Gillingham brought on much sought after Marlon King for Andy Hessenthaler in a bid to beef up their striking power, yet after a dismal spell of sterile football, it was Wanderers who finally shook off their lethargy with a second goal on 66 minutes, Pedersen firing in an angled shot from just inside the area.
Sub Okocha then almost increased the lead within minutes of coming on for Ba, spearing a shot just wide of the post.
Gillingham stuck to their task manfully but were never able to produce the final decisive pass, although Nosworthy forced Poole into a good save in the closing minutes.
Wanderers, however, should have had a third goal when Hunt drove the ball into the 6 yard box but somehow Jardel could only put the ball over the bar as he slid in to get the final touch.