Joe Gbode scored twice for Gillingham at Dartford but there was an injury concern over fellow front-man Seb Palmer-Houlden.
Gbode’s goals came on 4 and 35 minutes and Conor Masterson also struck the crossbar with a header in the opening half.
Palmer-Houlden was forced off early in the second half, pulling up with a muscle injury. The early indication was that it isn’t as bad as first feared.
Gillingham were playing in their final pre-season game ahead of their League 2 season.
Gareth Ainsworth named a 17-man squad, missing only right-back Remeao Hutton (ill) from what’s expected to be a first-team squad that takes on Accrington next weekend.
Sam Gale took over right-back duties against for the Gills.
Winger Aaron Rowe wasn’t fit enough to make the final weekend of pre-season, while striker Sam Vokes remains on the way back from an arm injury.
The Gills boss split his squad with a senior team up against Dartford after a fringe/youth group played at Chatham the night before, a side that included Jack Nolan and Nelson Khumbeni.
Ady Pennock’s Dartford still have games at Faversham (Tuesday) and local rivals Ebbsfleet United (next Saturday) to play ahead of their Isthmian Premier Division campaign starting at Dulwich Hamlet.
Gbode – subject to transfer speculation in the week and goalscorer in the defeat at Ebbsfleet on the Tuesday – got the Gills off to a great start with a fourth-minute opener, running into the box from off the wing before picking out the far corner with a low drilled effort.
His second goal half an hour later was pretty similar, again cutting in from the flank, but there were numerous other chances prior to that.
Masterson had a header come off the bar from Bradley Dack’s corner and Gbode had a goalbound chance blocked by Michael Olarewau.
Gbode ended the half with two goals, three blocked efforts and two headers narrowly wide of the mark. His backheel late on also set Seb Palmer-Houlden in on goal, forcing keeper Jonny Henly to make a save.
The Darts had a couple of chances of their own, Eddie Dsane finding Calum Jones in the opening moments of the game but he couldn’t convert. Gillingham had scored twice before Ikechi Eze shot wide.
Five minutes into the second half Palmer-Houlden was forced off with an injury, picking it up as he chased a throughball from Gbode. The Gills will be hoping his quick exit means from the field means no major damage has been inflicted.
Elliott Nevitt replaced Palmer-Houlden and with an hour gone Josh Andrews and Marcus Wyllie were given minutes, replacing Dack and Williams.
Ethan Coleman had a deflected effort go wide for the Gills during the second half, which was flat in contrast to the numerous chances that had come during the first 45.
Andrews headed wide for the Gills while Shad Ogie kept a close eye on Dartford forward Callum Jones at the other end.
Gbode and Marcus Wyille had shots blocked one after another as the Gills looked to add a few more goals to the tally.
Dartford made wholesale changes with 10 minutes left, including an appearance from former Gills keeper Carter Sullivan.
Gbode smashed a shot wide from an angle, having to settle for just the two goals on another positive day, for a forward that’s been linked to Luton Town.
Dartford: Henly (Trialist 80mins), Frempah, Whitefield, Olarewayu, McLeod (Pinder 68mins), Olapade, Dsane, Odaudu, Carruthers (Box 73mins), Jones, Eze. Subs: Williams, Omara-Knapp, Atkins, Campbell, Taylor.
Gillingham: Morris, Gale (Smith 46mins), Clark, Ogie, Masterson, Little, McKenzie (Coleman 63mins), J Williams (Wyllie 63mins), Dack (Andrews 63mins), Gbode, Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt 51mins). Sub not used: Turner.
Referee: Joe Dann-Pye
Attendance: 1,037
