Gillingham got their Checkatrade Trophy campaign off to a winning start with victory against Southend United.

Just days after the two sides met at Priestfield in League One, they were back to face one another, this time in front of vastly less fans.

With the news of Josh Wright’s imminent departure the talk of the terraces, Gillingham showed there is life after their former captain.

The Gills opened the scoring with just eight minutes on the clock with former Blues trialist Josh Parker on target.

The winger saw his first shot blocked by Southend centre-back White before latching onto the loose ball to fire home a powerful effort from 20 yards.

But Southend – who made five changes to their starting line-up – soon hit back and wasted a golden chance to equalise when Theo Robinson sent Jermaine McGlashan racing clean through on goal.

However, with just Gills goalkeeper Steve Arnold to beat, McGlashan saw his effort diverted wide of the right post before Robinson sent a well struck effort over the crossbar from long range.

But, with 31 minutes on the clock, Blues drew back level with McLaughlin again on target against the Gills.

The Irishman – who has now scored in four successive games against the Kent club – was picked out by Dru Yearwood’s inviting low centre and made no mistake with a simple close range finish.

Gillingham soon hit back with Greg Cundle firing inches wide of the left post before captain Scott Wagstaff saw his deflected long range effort fizz over the crossbar in the closing action of the first half.

After the break, Yearwood saw another inviting cross diverted to safety by Arnold before the Gills regained the lead in fortuitous circumstances.

Darren Oldaker initially saw his curling 25 yard free-kick struck the underside of the crossbar but Blues debutant Elvis Bwomono fired his attempted clearance into Ferdinand before seeing the ball deflect into the back of the net.

Shrimpers boss Brown responded by bringing on midfielder Michael Klass for his first team debut in place of Yearwood before a second change followed in the 70th minute with Simon Cox replacing Amadou Ba in attack.

Cox soon teed up McGlashan whose goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by a sliding Aaron Simpson before both White and Ferdinand picked up injuries in quick succession.

White was replaced by Harry Kyprianou but, with all three substitutes having been made, Ferdinand was forced to move up front due to his limited mobility and Blues were unable to conjure up a late leveller despite 10 minutes of added on time.

 

Gillingham line up: Arnold, O’Neill, Ehmer, Nugent, Ogilvie (Simpson 79), Parker, Oldaker, Hessenthaler, Wagstaff (Byrne 90), Cundle (List 70), Wilkinson.

Subs not used: Holy, Lacey, Chapman, Eaves.

Southend United line up: Oxley, Ferdinand, Timlin, McLaughlin, Ba (Cox 70), Yearwood (Klass 62), McGlashan, Leonard, Robinson, Bwomono, White (Kyprianou 85).

Subs not used: Smith, Kightly, Fortune, Bridge.

Referee: Mr Andy Haines

Attendance: 1,549 (135 Southend)