Chatham Town 1 Gillingham 0: Pre-season match report from the Bauvill Stadium

A superb goal from Alex Giles earned Chatham Town a pre-season victory over his old club Gillingham.

Giles scored against his former club in the opening half of Tuesday night’s match at the Bauvill Stadium, and his goal settled it.

Gillingham named a youthful side for the trip to Chatham that wasn't short of quality.

The visiting team included young professionals like Logan Dobbs - who wore the captain’s armband - and midfielder Nelson Khumbeni, who played 22 games for the Gills last season.

Khumbeni had been filling in at centre-half in previous friendlies but was back in his accustomed midfield role at Chatham. He was the most senior player in the Gills' starting XI.

Isthmian Premier side Chatham named five of their summer signings in their squad, including former Gills midfielder Bradley Stevenson.

Striker Jimmy Wild is another new face at the Bauvill this season and, on three occasions, he came close to scoring in the opening half.

The teams went in at the break with Chatham leading 1-0, thanks to a spectacular goal.

Giles — who turned professional at Gillingham before his release and subsequent move to Chatham — thumped home an effort from 35 yards.

His low-key celebration was fitting for the occasion, but the strike certainly wasn't, as he smashed the ball past a stunned Benji Spencer in the Gills goal.

That goal, after 31 minutes, came just after the Gills' best spell, which had seen Sulli Booth force a save from Nathan Harvey, Louie Dayal head wide before Khumbeni fired straight at the Chats keeper.

The best of the early chances fell to Chatham. Wild was unable to connect to a ball in from Adam Leathers after the midfielder had robbed possession off Damien Theodore.

A similar chance later in the half saw