An entertaining pre-season friendly ended with Welling United and Gillingham level at three goals apiece. Welling manager Steve Lovell said afterwards “It was very encouraging in both halves.”

“There were a lot of changes made in the second half. I’ve just said to them now there were twenty players used today and each and every one of them has a good chance of starting on August the fourteenth. There’s not one of them that didn’t do themselves proud so today was excellent.”

It was a full strength Gillingham side that visited Park View Road and Lovell was grateful to the Gills’ manager, Steve Evans. “Fair play to Steve and I’d like to thank him for bringing the team up here. “he said. 

“It was the strongest that they’ve got at the moment. He said to me that they are looking for players, they’re down on numbers, but I’m sure that Steve will get his team together ready for the start. I know most of their players. They’re full time pros so we’ve given a good account of ourselves today.”

Lovell was also happy with the progress in training since their first match at Folkestone Invicta. “Each week it goes on, they will look sharper.” he confirmed “They’ll get better and better with the shape that we’re working on.”

“It’s pleasing but it’s one step at a time. We’ve got Charlton on Tuesday which will be an even tougher game because Charlton will have more of a squad than Gillingham did today. It’s another tough one but as long as we get minutes in their legs, we’ll be alright.”

For many Welling supporters, it will have been their first look at the new squad. Lovell said: “Hopefully, they will have seen today that we’ve got a very good set of boys. There’s a few that we want to sign and we’ll be trying to do that by next week.”

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.