Gillingham’s pre season is underway with a hard fought win at Bostik League South side Faversham Town.

A solitary goal from new signing, Tom Eaves, was the only goal of the night, but for Gills boss Ady Pennock whilst the win was satisfying, his biggest plus on the night was coming through the a clean bill of health.

“You look to come through the early stages particularly of pre-season with no injuries and we achieved that at Faversham.”

“The boys have all been working hard both at home and in Ireland all week. I was pleased to get through with no injuries and we were able to get minutes into everyone’s legs as we got pre-season under way in a game that was played in great spirit and we had no problems at all so it was very good.”

“Being able to play two complete teams was good and we’ll probably do that in the next couple of games before we look for players to get 90 minutes closer to the start of the season at Doncaster.  We got a good work-out at Faversham on a nice and flat pitch – yes it was bobbly, but at this stage of the season you have to expect that!”

“Faversham were very good to us as they always are and are a very good and nice club.  It’s important that we have a good relationship with all our local clubs as you never know that we might just unearth a little gem somewhere around.”

“It helps us if we have the chance to send a couple of our youngsters out on loan to get the experience of playing at various levels.  And it also helps too as we can more easily keep track of them rather than sending them on loan to places like for example Barrow and Gateshead!”

“It’s similar in some respects to us getting Connor Ogilvie on loan from Spurs – we can give him the minutes and hopefully he’ll do a good job for us – I’m really pleased to get him.  And if he does (do well), Spurs can more easily keep tabs on his progress!”

Next up for the Gills is a Tuesday night trip to Dartford – another club that Pennock has a lot of time for.  “Tony (Burman) has done a great job there and they will provide us with more good opposition I’m sure,” he said.

“We’ll probably go there again with different elevens in both halves as I cannot stress enough that at this early stage just how important minutes into aching limbs are.  All that I will say is that Connor should be involved at some point at Princes Park.”