Gillingham manager Mark Bonner was delighted to have seen his side open their League Two campaign with a 4-1 win over Carlisle United.

The game, played at Priestfield in front of over 7,000 fans, was a real change from what Gills fans have been used to watching in recent seasons.

Playing forward at every opportunity and looking threatening on the break, Bonner has clearly taken the shackles off and with Armani Little pulling the strings in midfield and Jack Nolan looking a class above down the right, the three points were there for the taking for a Gillingham side that seems to be heading in the right direction.

But Bonner, for whom it was a first competitive game in charge of the Gills, said United made it difficult for his side in spells.

“The scoreline makes that sound more comfortable than that was,” Bonner said.

“It was really tough for us in the first half and tough for us during a period of the second.

“Once we got the third it became a bit of a different game, a bit more comfortable for us.”

Bonner was not happy with his side’s first-half display after Tim Dieng’s second-minute opener.

But he was delighted with the overall effort and the outcome against a “tough” Carlisle side.

“There were spells in the game where we had too long without the ball, got too deep, got forced back into the half, didn’t get enough pressure on them in the opposition half, or with the ball,” said Bonner.

“There’s loads to work on but I was really pleased that people came out and saw a performance that they like.

“It’s a tough, tough team [Carlisle], a tough first game, on a difficult afternoon in terms of weather and things like that.

“Probably our best part of the game was the very beginning. I didn’t like us after we scored, I really liked how we started the second half and I thought the third goal was so important and when we got it that killed them a little bit and we were excellent.

“We have to play with that kind of vigour when the game is that much in the balance.

“We had moments in the game where we found it difficult against a good side but if you would have offered us that at the start of the day I would have been absolutely chewing your arm off.”

Gillingham will now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s clash away to Swansea City in the League Cup.

Bonner may be tempted to ring the changes with Saturday’s trip to Morecambe in the league a more important clash in the grand scheme of things.