Gillingham continued their fine pre-season form with a narrow victory over Dover Athletic at The Crabble on Tuesday night.

Danny Jackman and Adam Birchall gave The Gills a two goal lead, with Callum Willock pulling one back for the home side in the second period.

It was a good workout for both sides as they stepped up their pre-season campaigns. For Gillingham, former Dover Athletic striker Adam Birchall was handed the captain’s armband on his return to The Crabble.

Meanwhile, Gillingham handed another trial to Bernard Onanga Itoua and centre back, with fellow French trialist Mikael playing at right back.

Dover fielded a strong side of their own, with former Gills players Tom Wynter and Dean Rance in their starting eleven.

The game got off to a sluggish start with both sides prepared to sit back and see how it was going to settle down. Rance tried his luck from distance, but his shot went wide.

Dazzled by Dover’s new orange kit, Gillingham were content on bringing down Ricky Modeste when he went on a few jinking runs towards the box, with Andy Frampton, playing at left back, more than happy to be physical in his approach.

Jamie Smith tried his luck for Dover, but again he fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

The game finally came to life moments later when great build up play between Charlie Allen and Lewis Montrose lead to the ball falling kindly to Danny Jackman on the edge of the area.

With little hesitation, the midfielder shifted the ball to his left foot and curled a shot that beat Lee Hook in the Dover goal, cannoned off the post, rolled along the goal-line and crept into the net.

With Martin Allen up in the Director’s box alongside Andy Hessenthaler and Paul Scally, it was down to John Schofield and Mark Patterson to control things from the bench, with Darren Hare dispatched from the stands with messages from the Gillingham manager.

Dover’s next real attempt at scoring came just minutes later when Billy Bricknell thought he’d broke free from the Gillingham defence, but Itoua did well to get a block in.

Both sides traded chances with Charlie Allen’s cross come shot tipped over the bar by Hook, whilst at the other end Bricknell conspired to hit an air shot with the goal gaping.

Sensing Gillingham were losing control of the game, Martin Allen came down from the Director’s box to dish out some instructions. They included, move, move, join in, join in, push on, too slow, do it quickly, forward runs – all very illuminating!

With the manager’s words ringing in their ears, Gillingham stepped up a gear with Ashley Miller breaking free of his marker, but his tame effort went straight at Hook.

Gillingham weren’t to be denied though and their second goal came when Danny Jackman’s corner was headed goalwards by Connor Essam, it was cleared off the line by Steve Thomson, only to come to Birchall on the edge of the box and he made no mistake burying his strike in the bottom corner for 2-0.

That’s the way the two sides went into the break and the changes came as teams emerged with Gillingham making four substitutions, whilst Dover made just the one.

Alex Brown, Josh Hare, Jack Evans and George Humber came on for The Gills in place of Mikael, Itoua, Frampton and Miller, whilst former Gills midfielder Barry Cogan was introduced in place of Ricky Modeste.

The changes lead to an upturn in the tempo, but failed to see Gillingham assert their authority with any more goals. Danny Jackman and Alex Brown tried their luck from distance, but both failed to find the target.

With the home side looking for something from the game, it came when Cogan’s floated free kick found the head of Callum Willock who glided the ball past Tommy Forecast in the Gillingham goal.

It was the least the home side had deserved, but was harsh on the Gills keeper who had been rarely tested in the first half.

With 825 watching on, the game failed to ignite towards the end as both managers opted to make a whole host of changes, disrupting the flow of the game.

Both teams were guilty of wasting chances in front of goal, with Dover manager, and former Gillingham striker, Nicky Forster having the best chance of the half, but his scuffed shot clipped the post and rolled behind the goal.

There was still time for Sean Raggett to almost snatch an equaliser for the home side, but his header from Cogan’s free kick went wide.

One fear for Gillingham fans was the sight of Connor Essam limping off just before the end, but Martin Allen confirmed after the game that he and Andy Frampton had got slight knocks to their ankles, whilst Charlie Allen and Lewis Montrose had suffered dead legs.

In the end, the stats will show Gillingham won this all Kent derby, but both sides will go away with credit as they prepare themselves for their seasons ahead.

FULL TIME: DOVER ATHLETIC 1-2 GILLINGHAM

Dover Athletic line up: Hook, Huke (Axford 67), Wynter, Rance, Watt (Raggett 62), Simpemba (Webb 67), Modeste (Cogan H/T), Thomson (Pilcher 85), Willock (Forster 67), Bricknell, Smith.

Subs not used: Harrington, Walker.

Goal: Willock (54).

Gillingham line up: Forecast, Mikael (Evans H/T), Essam (Maughan 89), Itoua (Hare H/T), Frampton (Brown H/T), Payne (Carter 62), Montrose (Brunt 73), Allen, Jackman, Birchall, Miller (Humber H/T ((Millbank 89)).

Sub not used: Hawkes.

Goals: Jackman (12), Birchall (42).

Referee: Mr Stuart Butler

Assts: Mr Paul Yates & Mr Saul Kay

4th Official: Mr Dave Smart

Attendance: 825