Gillingham and Calais players square-up at the Julien Denis Stadium

by Luke Cawdell

Cody McDonald made his first appearance for Gillingham as Andy Hessenthaler’s side comfortably beat a physical Calais team on Saturday.

McDonald (pictured below) joined up with the Gills team for their training camp in Le Touquet on Thursday and was in the squad to take on a Calais side with plenty of brass but little class.

The referee remarkably booked five Gillingham players in the match, compared to two from the home side, in a bad tempered friendly on the French north coast.

Stefan Payne, Tony Sinclair, Luke Rooney, Alan Julian and Barry Fuller were all shown the yellow card, all for minor offences.

Confusion over the start time meant the Gillingham team arrived for an expected 3.30pm start, while the Calais players had to be rushed to the ground, having originally been told kick-off was at 5pm. The game eventually started just after four.

It wasn’t great preparation for either side but Gillingham started in control and never let the hosts really trouble them.

With just three minutes gone Rooney made it 1-0 for the Gills and five minutes later Payne, who was hobbling after twisting his ankle, buried the second following a mix-up at the back.

Payne was subbed soon after picking up a booking.

Fuller and substitute Dennis Oli fired wide before Andrew White’s cross was converted by Chris Palmer just after the half-hour mark to make it 3-0.

A mass skirmish, involving everyone but the Calais keeper, came shortly before the interval as tempers flared.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler rotated the team for the second half with eight substitutions.

With five minutes of the second half gone Oli made it 4-0 with a cool finish under pressure.

Calais’ best effort came mid-way through the half when Loorius Medy’s shot was tipped over by trialist keeper Lance Cronin.

McDonald ended his debut with the last chance of the match, as he smashed a shot on the turn narrowly wide.

Gillingham (1st half): Julian, Fuller, Nutter, Sinclair, Gowling, Maher, Rooney, Palmer, S Payne (Oli 20mins), White, Barcham.

Gillingham (2nd half): Cronin, Fuller (Southall 70mins), Gowling (Essam 63mins), Jackman, Bentley, J Payne, Weston, Spiller, Aborah, McDonald, Oli.

Were you in France? What did you make of Gillingham's performance? Comment below.