Gillingham and Northampton Town both registered their first goals of the season as they drew 1-1 at MEMS Priestfield.
Conor McManus opened the scoring for the hosts with a back-post header in the 8th minute, before Logan Briggs equalised with a stunning effort later in the half.
Neither side were able to find a winner in a second half that was dominated by very windy conditions, but there were promising signs from the injury-hit Gills who played plenty of good football to give the fans some hope for a strong 2026-27 season.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the starting line up, two of which were enforced following injuries to Zane Albarus and Kadeem Harris, who picked up an ACL injury against Fleetwood Town. They were replaced by Harry Waldock and Conor McManus, while Ollie Wright returned from injury to make his debut in goal.
Chris Hogg made two changes to the Northampton line up. Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh replaced Connor Lemoneigh-Evans, who dropped to the bench and Joe Wormleighton replaced Harvey Saunders.
The opening minutes were largely dominated by the visitors, who kept Gillingham penned in their own half, drawing a bookable foul from Robbie McKenzie in the fourth minute.
However, the Gills were soon celebrating their first goal of the season.
Following some smart build up play on the right, Nick Freeman played a left-footed in-swinging cross towards the back post and found Conor McManus who firmly headed into the bottom-right corner.
The hosts continued to enjoy most of the possession with the new-look front three of James Brophy, Will Goodwin and Ronan Hale linking up well and pressing in defence.
Hale was a whisker away from doubling the Gills’ lead as he fizzed a free kick just over the top-right corner.
Hale had another chance moments later as Freeman found him unmarked in the box, but he couldn’t quite control the ball before he got his shot away, which was easily dealt with.
Wright appeared to make an excellent save from close range following a corner, but the assistant’s flag was raised.
Captain Omar Beckles stopped a certain goal in the 35th minute as he blocked a low, fizzing cross and turned it over the bar.
In the corner that followed, the visitors equalised. Logan Briggs picked up possession on the corner of the Gillingham area, weaved past one defender, took a sot which Beckles blocked, then picked up the loose ball and fired it into the top left corner.
The first half ended with James Maxwell snuffing out a potential Gillingham attack and sending it out for a throw in.
The conditions were windier in the second half, which made it tougher for both sides to keep hold of the ball.
The first clear chance fell to the Gills. Harry Waldock won possession and linked up with Goodwin and Hale, who slightly scuffed his shot, which was easily dealt with by the keeper.
The home fans gave a warm reception to Cameron Antwi who was substituted on for Robbie McKenzie, having missed so much of last season through injury.
Brophy showed off his pace and skill as he made a rapid run into the Northampton box, only for his shot to be deflected behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
The visitors then had more attacking possession, firing several crosses into the Gillingham area, but without success.
As conditions got windier, the quality of the game dipped as both sides struggled for passing accuracy.
Gillingham seemed the more likely team to find the winner as they mounted several attacks in the final minutes of the half, but the final passes were often overhit.
Substitute Sheldon Kendall went close wit a left-footed shot that went just over the bar from a tight angle.
The final whistle blew as Northampton cleared a Gillingham free kick from outside their penalty area.
Gillingham: Wright, McManus (Kendall 82), Smith, Goodwin (McCleary 81), Hale (Sillah 81), McKenzie (Antwi 55’), Brophy (Webster 97), Beckles, Freeman, Waldock, Dobbs.
Subs Not Used: Holtam, Booth.
Goals: McManus 8’
Booked: McKenzie 4’, Beckles 14’
Northampton Town: Jeacock, Maxwell, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Guthrie, Moore (Hoskins 27’), Evans, Warhurst (Opoku 58’), Fornah, Wormleighton, Briggs, Donacien (Dyche 70’).
Subs Not Used: Fitzsimmons, Swyer, McCarthy, Saunders,
Goals: Dobbs 36’
Booked: Fornah 27’, Guthrie 54, Briggs 72, Dyche 79
HT 1 – 1 FT 1 – 1
Attendance: 5701 (537)
Referee: Mr Elliott Swallow
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.