Navid Nasseri scored a brace as Gillingham eased past Dover Athletic in a pre-season friendly at Crabble on Saturday.

The midfielder scored in each half with one for Liam Nash as Gills won 3-0 in the first game to be played on the newly re-laid pitch.

It was a comfortable win for the visiting side with but it could have been more with a number of chances squandered late on.

A strong Gillingham side turned out for the match with Whites on a day when they also had another team take on Ebbsfleet.

Dover had five trialists in their squad with two featuring in the starting line-up as they looked to finalise their team ahead of the National League season.

After an even first 10 minutes, Gillingham took the lead through Navid Nasseri in fortuitous circumstances.

His shot took a big deflection off Connor Essam and Dover goalkeeper, Mitch Walker, could only watch helplessly as it trickled into the corner.

Josh Parker came close to doubling the visiting side’s advantage three minutes later. Gillingham found themselves with a free-kick 25 yards from goal but Parker shot curled just wide.

The first chance of the match for Dover fell to new signing Inih Effiong after 23 minutes. A corner dropped to the striker in the box but a Gillingham defender managed to get a toe on it to take it off his boot.

Parker was causing problems for the Dover defence during the first half and came close again 15 minutes before the break. However, Essam got a block in and deflected the shot wide.

Gillingham were comfortable in possession and were the deserved leaders at the half-time break.

It took Gillingham just eight minutes to double their lead at the start of the second half.

Mark Byrne got to the byline on the right and crossed for Liam Nash who tapped home from five yards.

Effiong went close for Whites in the 58th minute but his shot was pushed into the side netting by goalkeeper Tomas Holy. Anthony Jeffrey played in the striker after a run from the left.

Nasseri added a third and the best goal of the game just two minutes later. He fired a shot from 30 yards offering Walker little chance in the Dover goal.

A lovely passing move deserved a goal for Gillingham 15 minutes before the end but Parker scuffed the shot wide.

Ten minutes from time Liam Nash was played through on goal and with just Walker to beat he tried to lift it over the ‘keeper but it looped over the bar.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Essam, Diarra, Trialist, Trialist, Brundle, Gomis (Nortey 68mins), Jeffrey (Trialist 64mins) Effiong (Trialist 80mins), Allen. Subs not used: Daniel, Adebowale, Okosieme, Trialist, Lewington

Gillingham: Holy, Fuller, Zakunai, Simpson, Ehmer, Charles-Cook, Byrne, Moussa (Stevenson 74mins), Parker, Nash, Nasseri. Subs not used: Woods, Tucker, Catherall, Hlabi.