Chatham Town 1 Gillingham 0 - Pre-season friendly at the Bauvill Stadium

Chatham Town beat a Gillingham team which included a handful of professional players.

Sam Folarin put Chatham ahead late in the first half with a well-hit finish and that proved to be the only goal of Friday night’s game.

Winger Jack Nolan was a surprise starter for the Gills - captaining a side that was otherwise made up of youth players or young pros.

Nolan had featured for the Gills in all of their first-team games over the summer, and scored from the penalty spot against Southampton, but was called upon to play at Chatham Town. Gillingham’s senior side play at Dartford on Saturday.

Joining Nolan in the attack was under-18 player Cruz Beszant, promising talent Damien Theodore and striker Harry Bridle, who signed on as a pro just ahead of the pre-season campaign.

Right-back Harry Webster was named in the Gills XI against the club he spent time on loan at last season, while midfielder Nelson Khumbeni was also included in the starting line-up.

Isthmian Premier side Chatham have had a busy pre-season and included a handful of their summer recruits, playing the Gills ahead of a game at home against East Grinstead the following day.

Gills’ League 2 rivals Bromley are also playing Chatham on Tuesday night at the Bauvill Stadium.

Youth forward Beszant had an early shot saved by home keeper Henry Molyneux while Sam Sene-Richardson showed his attacking threat early on for Chats, with good feet inside the box, before firing just wide.

Molyneux was called upon again later in the half to deny Theodore, after he’d been found in the box, following a good cross from Webster.

It was Chatham who struck first, summer recruit Folarin firing them in front five minutes before the break, turning and firing home into the top corner.

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