Gillingham’s build up to the new season continued on Tuesday afternoon with a 3-1 win over a Watford XI.

First half goals from Jordan Graham, Matty Willock and John Akinde gave the Gills a second pre-season triumph following the weekend win against Colchester United.

Graham put Gillingham in front after only two minutes after good work from Akinde before the Championship levelled inside a quarter of an hour.

Akinde then went close to putting the Gills back in front before Willock did – Akinde was again the provider who set up Willock who missed most of last season and will be looking to repay some of the manager’s faith in him over the coming months.

Akinde then got the goal that he deserved as he was found by Graham before firing home in the half’s final minute.

In the second half after countless changes, Jacob Mellis went close for Gillingham’s fourth, whilst keeper Jack Bonham had to be alert to stop Watford reducing the arrears on the hour mark.

As often happens after the break in pre-season games with multiple substitutions, the flow wasn’t great, but young Gills keeper Joe Walsh still had to be on his game with a couple of good saves that would have done the young man a lot of good.

After the game, assistant boss Paul Raynor told the club’s official twitter feed, “Kyle Dempsey is a leader, a winner, and a good talker and we’re delighted to have him on board, He has given everyone a real lift, it’s a real statement but we haven’t finished yet!”

He went on, “I though we were a little sloppy in the first ten minutes and allowed Watford a little bit too long on the ball but once we ironed that out we got on top of them and punished them a couple of times.”

“It was a good workout. These pre-season games are all about getting minutes under our belt. We were up against good opposition but we were good value for the win!”

Gillingham will now turn their attention to their next pre-season friendly which will be away to Reading on Saturday afternoon.

Gillingham starting XI – Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Medley, Ogilvie, MacDonald, Willock, Dempsey, Graham, Hanlan, Akinde.

HT subs – O’Keefe for MacDonald; Coyle for Dempsey; Woods for Jackson; Mellis for Hanlan; Baker for Medley

Second half changes – Lintott for Willock; Nelson for Ogilve; Walsh for Bonham; Baker-Moran for Akinde; Medhurst for Tucker.

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.