Dover Athletic 0 Gillingham 1: Pre-season friendly match report from Crabble

Gillingham had plenty of senior players missing for their opening pre-season encounter but enough to see off Dover at Crabble on Tuesday night.

Robbie McKenzie put Gillingham ahead at the end of an entertaining opening half at Dover and his well-hit effort was the only goal of the night.

Gillingham named a different team in each half as manager Gareth Ainsworth fielded a mix of senior players and young prospects. Former Blackburn youngster Lenny Cirino also appeared as a trialist in the second half at left-back.

Young pros such as Harry Bridle, Harry Webster, Harry Waldock and Damien Theodore featured, along with youth midfielder Cruz Beszant.

New signing Seb Palmer-Houlden played in the second half team but there was no Sam Vokes - the experienced forward set to miss much of pre-season action as he recovers from a broken arm.

Ainsworth had warned before kick off that he would be playing it safe with several senior players and those missing also included Jonny Williams, Euan Williams, Elliott Nevitt, Andy Smith, Nelson Khumbeni and Aaron Rowe.

The Gills are back in action against Reading on Saturday, which could be a chance for some of those to make a first appearance.

Gillingham were up against a Dover side who won promotion back to National South at the first attempt last season. While it was a first outing of the summer for the Gills, Dover played Faversham Town at the weekend.

Whites boss Jake Leberl included a handful of trialists in his matchday squad while naming newly-signed defenders Henry Lukombo and Harry Beadle in the opening half XI.

Gills keeper Jake Turner - who ended last season on loan at Dagenham - was called upon to make a couple of early saves as Dover started brightly. Alfie Matthews also tried his