First-half goals from Brandon Hanlan and Josh Parker spoilt Accrington’s first game in Sky Bet League One as Gillingham won 2-0.
The League Two champions are playing in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1960 but the Gills were clinical, inflicting Stanley’s first defeat at home in 2018.
Steve Lovell handed three League debuts to Regan Charles-Cook, Dean Parrett and Brandon Hanlan.
A settled back four sat in front of keeper Tomas Holy who has been linked with a move away from Gillingham, whilst Billy Bingham was welcomed back into the starting eleven having had a frustrating, injury plagued last twelve months.
Meanwhile, striker Tom Eaves had to settle for a place on the bench alongside the likes of Barry Fuller and Liam Nash.
Stanley’s Jonny Maxted was the first goalkeeper in action, pulling off a diving save to deny Mark Byrne in the seventh minute. At the other end, Sean McConville’s header beat keeper Tomas Holy but Max Ehmer headed off the line.
The Gills took the lead on 23 minutes when Hanlan fired home from close range after getting on the end of a Regan Charles-Cook cross.
Gillingham piled on the pressure and they made it two on 43 minutes. Luke O’Neill played in a cross from the right and Parker’s diving header beat Maxted.
Stanley tried to get back in the game in the second half – Scott Brown’s goalbound shot hit his own player, Offrande Zanzala headed over and Ross Sykes had a header cleared off the line – but they could not find a way through.
The fledgling League One table sees Steve Lovell’s side sitting second with Burton Albion coming to Priestfield next Saturday for their first home league fixture of the season.
Accrington Stanley line up: Maxted, Johnson (Finley 62), Hughes, Sykes, Richards-Everton, Conneely, Brown, Clark, McConville, Jackson (Zanzala 82), Kee.
Subs not used: Warner, Platt, Sousa, Rodgers, Mingoia.
Booked: Clark (45+2), Sykes (68).
Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Ehmer, Zakuani, Garmston, Bingham, Byrne, Charles-Cook, Parrett, Hanlan (Eaves 70), Parker.
Subs not used: Hadler, Fuller, Simpson, Nasseri, Stevenson, Nash.
Goals: Hanlan (23), Parker (43).
Booked: Byrne (38).
Referee: Mr Anthony Backhouse
Attendance: 2,201 (418 Gills)
Picture supplied by Kent Pro Images