Gillingham were unable to make their chances count in a friendly defeat to Ebbsfleet United.
Joe Gbode struck late on for the Gills in reply to Lennon Peake’s opener and a penalty from former Gillingham striker Dominic Samuel.
Jack Nolan and Shad Ogie both hit the woodwork for the Gills in the second half, and there were plenty of other opportunities too for the Gills, in an entertaining game at Stonebridge Road.
Gillingham were facing their penultimate test ahead of their League 2 season opener.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth used the game to get good minutes into some of the players who had missed the early games of pre-season. Jonny Williams, Elliott Nevitt, Nelson Khumbeni and Logan Dobbs were all starters.
Missing again was defender Sam Gale, along with goalkeeper Glenn Morris and Conor Masterson. All three were there to watch.
National South side Ebbsfleet were beaten 4-1 at home in their previous match, when they played League 1 Leyton Orient.
Josh Wright, a former Gills captain, named four more ex-Gillingham players in his starting line-up, with Max Ehmer skippering the Fleet in defence after his Priestfield summer exit.
Jake Hessenthaler, Ben Chapman and striker Dominic Samuel also faced their old club.
Gillingham started the match well, full of running, with big striker Andrews looking to get on the end of the balls out of defence and managing it more times than not.
It was from Andrews header that a great chance fell to Marcus Wyllie but keeper Gio Bellagambi saved well from the striker.
Nelson Khumbeni had also been denied early on while Nevitt – making his first start of pre-season – Coleman and Wyllie again had chances to break the deadlock.
The hosts gained confidence from a chance that birthday-boy Peake had midway through the half, saved by Jake Turner. He made it count moments later.
Celebrating his 23rd birthday, Peake combined with Aaron Cosgrave down the Gills right side and the low finish from the Fleet wing-back opened the scoring.
George Moncur came close to a second with an attempted chip over Turner while Cosgrave shot wide later in the half.
More chances came and went for the Gills.
Andrews was unable to guide Nevitt’s cross home after Ehmer missed with his attempt to block the cross.
Wyllie was also off target when keeper Bellagambi miscued a clearance straight to the Gills man who was 25 yards out.
Nolan, Joe Gbode, Ogie and Robbie McKenzie were all introduced at the break. McKenzie and Ogie were the central defensive pairing.
Gillingham’s first big chance of the second half came from a set-piece after Jonny Williams had been fouled on the edge of the box. Nolan’s free-kick was turned onto the upright by keeper Bellagambi.
Gills boss Ainsworth was calling for a penalty after the Fleet goalie had gone through the back of Andrews but he’d taken enough of the ball too satisfy the referee.
Joe Gbode did win a free-kick on the right edge of the box moments later. Williams picked out Ogie, whose header hit the bar, and after the ball dropped for McKenzie, he fired over.
Nolan went close with a shot bent in from the wing and Gbode had a golden chance to score with the goal at his mercy but he smashed the shot straight at covering defender Mustapha Olagunju.
Turner was on hand to mop up a few Ebbsfleet attacks but was left facing a penalty when Ogie fouled Samuel in the box. The former Gills man stepped up and drilled his effort down the middle to double the lead with 16 minutes left.
Bradley Dack had a shot saved shortly after he was introduced.
With 78 minutes gone the Gills finally had a goal they deserved. Joe Gbode turned his man before bending a shot past the keeper into the far side of the net.
Ebbsfleet: Bellagambi, Hessenthaler, Ehmer, Passley (Passley 75mins), Cosgrave (Coley 81mins), Moncur, Peake, Manktelow (Dallison 60mins), Chapman, Olagunju, Samuel. Subs not used: Cousins, Anthony.
Gillingham: Turner (Holtam 75mins), Webster (Hutton 65mins), Cirino (Clark 65mins), Smith (McKenzie 46mins), Dobbs (Ogie 46mins), Coleman (Little 75mins), Khumbeni (Nolan 46mins), J Williams (Dack 75mins), Wyllie, Nevitt (Gbode 46mins), Andrews (Palmer-Houlden 65mins). Sub not used: Waldock.
Attendance: 916
