Pre-season ended at Woodstock Park for another year as Sittingbourne’s very experimental side were edged out by the young Gillingham side on a very relaxed Swale evening. 

With the home side preparing to face the Jersey Bulls in the Emirates FA Cup at the weekend, boss Ryan Maxwell was given the ideal chance to cast his final eye over some trialists, whilst other squad members who haven’t played many minutes were given more before the big kick off at the weekend. 

For the young Gills, under the watching eye of Andy Hessenthaler, they showed that the future at Priestfield is certainly looking much better ahead of the club’s re-entry in the world of under 23 football. 

The game itself was played at a good tempo and in a good spirit in near perfect conditions and early on the two sides were well matched with the visitors offering some slick passing across the surface and almost struck the first goal as Harry Bridle scooted through only to be brilliantly denied by Bobby Mason in the home goal. 

The young Gills did take the lead shortly after some stunning wing play the ball was played in for Matt MacArthur to arrive at the far post to side foot home. 

Sittingbourne were desperately unlucky not to level on the half hour as Bruno Tavares saw a shot beat the trailist keeper and thunder back off the left post. 

The left off inspired the visitors to up the tempo and when played through for a second time Bridle didn’t miss as he rolled the ball past the advancing Mason and into the net. 

Half time saw the “usual” untold number of changes with the home side alone making six and whilst the second half was nearly competitive, the cutting edge seemed to go with the setting sun. 

The visitors had the best chances with Kieran Agbebi firing over, and sub Cruz Beszant being superbly denied by Mason who did magnificently to tip over the fierce angled drive. 

So that’s pre-season done for the Brickies and next up the mouth-watering FA Cup tie at the weekend when the Jersey Bulls come to Swale as truly competitive football “finally” returns… 

SITTINGBOURNE – Mason, Dasho, Davidson, Singh, Trialist, Trialist, Nyadzayo, Follea, Bloomfield, Theobald, Tavares 

Subs – Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, 

GILLINGHAM – Trialist, Orji, Webster, Trialist, Giles, Gale, Agbebi, Chambers, Gbode, Bridle, Macarthur 

Subs – Bayliss, Sullivan, De Wilde, Tawio-Pratt, Beszant.

Attendance: 224

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.