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.
Ten minutes into the second half, Nolan created a chance for the Gills from a free-kick, delivering the ball into the box where defender Logan Dobbs headed over the crossbar.
Chatham introduced Alex Giles off the bench in the second half, the defender moving to the Bauvill this summer after his Gillingham exit.
Goalkeeper Taite Holtam denied Chats a second before he was replaced in goal and an effort from Tope Fadahunsi went close for the hosts with 15 minutes left.
Harry Waldock fired wide for the Gills while Louie Dayal had a couple of efforts in quick succession saved by Chatham’s trialist keeper, ensuring the home side preserved their one-goal advantage.
Chatham: Molyneux (Trialist 70mins), Evans, Nelson (Giles 67mins), Butler, Aidoo, Robins (Trialist 76mins), Moynes (Belsham 80mins), Garlinge, Folarin (Trialist 70mins), Sene-Richardson (Boissiere 86mins), Fadahunsi (Trialist 76mins).
Gillingham: Holtam (Hegarty 62mins), Webster (Kot 78mins), Trialist (Adams 62mins), Dobbs (Trialist 62mins), Broadbent (Jones 32mins (Booth 88mins)), Khumbeni (Dayal 70mins), Waldock (Cross 78mins), Nolan (Grant 70mins), Beszant, Theodore (Mhlanga 78mins), Bridle (Sargent 70mins).
